JP2004207395A

JP2004207395A - Sliding electronic component

Info

Publication number: JP2004207395A
Application number: JP2002373031A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Shinichi Yamaguchi; 眞一山口
Original assignee: Teikoku Tsushin Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Teikoku Tsushin Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-24
Filing date: 2002-12-24
Publication date: 2004-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-24
Also published as: JP4522046B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sliding electronic component that can be reduced in thickness and does not produce any sound when a repulsive means is pressed against the component by means of a moving body (sliding object). <P>SOLUTION: A torsion coil spring 50 provided with coils 52 and 52 and pulling-out sections 53 and 53 is attached to a case 60 so that the pulling-out sections 53 and 53 may respectively come into contact with pulling-out section locking sections 69 provided in the case 60. Then the sliding object 30 is attached to the case 60 so that the object 30 may freely slide with respect to the case 60 and may be positioned between the pulling-out sections 53 and 53. When the sliding object 30 is slid in one direction (A1 or A2), a repulsive restoring force to a neutral position is generated, because the object 30 presses the pulling-out section 53 in the direction and, at the same time, the pulling-out section 53 on the opposite side is maintained in contact with its corresponding pulling-out section locking section 69. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、スライド式可変抵抗器やスライド式スイッチ等のスライド式電子部品に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、スライド式電子部品は、ケース等の固定側部材に対して、摺動子を取り付けた摺動型物をスライド自在に取り付け、摺動型物の下側に前記摺動子が摺接する摺接パターンを設けた基板を配置し、前記摺動型物に取り付けたつまみをスライド移動することで、摺動子を摺接パターンに摺接させ、これによってその電気的出力を変化するように構成されていた。
【０００３】
一方前記構造のスライド式電子部品においてつまみ及び摺動型物を所定の位置に自動復帰させる手段として、例えば特許文献１に示すような圧縮コイルバネが利用されてきた。ここで圧縮コイルバネとは、コイルの中心軸方向に圧縮したり引張ったりすることで復帰力を生じさせるバネをいう。
【０００４】
しかしながら圧縮コイルバネをスライド式電子部品の自動復帰手段として用いた場合、以下のような問題点があった。
▲１▼圧縮コイルバネはそのコイル中心軸が摺動型物の移動方向に対して平行になるようにスライド式電子部品内に取り付けられるため、スライド式電子部品内には少なくとも圧縮コイルバネを収納するために厚み方向へ向けて圧縮コイルバネの直径分の厚みの収納スペースが必要になり、このスライド式電子部品を小型・薄型化しても、この収納スペース分以上はスライド式電子部品の薄型化が図れない。
【０００５】
▲２▼例えば図５（ａ）に示すように圧縮コイルバネ２００の端面はその一部がケース等の固定側部材２１０の当接面２１１に、その他の部分が摺動型物等の移動体２２０の当接面２２１に当接しており、図５（ｂ）に示すように移動体２２０を矢印方向へ移動させることによって圧縮コイルバネ２００を圧縮するが、この圧縮の際に移動体２２０の端面２２１に載っていた圧縮コイルバネ２００のバネ端２０１が、図５（ｃ）に示すように移動体２２０から外れることがあり、そのときバネ端２０１の次の端面２０３が移動体２２０の当接面２２１に強く衝突することで大きな音が発生する場合があった。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開平８−２７３４８４号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は上述の点に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は、厚みの薄型化が図れ、また移動体による弾発手段押圧時に音が発生することのないスライド式電子部品を提供することにある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するため請求項１に記載の発明は、固定側部材に対してスライド自在に取り付けられる移動体と、前記移動体の移動によって電気的出力を変化する電気的機能部とを具備するスライド式電子部品において、線材を巻き回すことでコイル部を設けるとともにこの線材の両端を引出部とするねじりコイルバネを前記固定側部材に取り付けるとともに、固定側部材には前記両引出部の対向する内側部分をそれぞれ当接して係止する引出部係止部を設け、一方前記移動体には両引出部の間に位置して両引出部にそれぞれ当接する当接部を設け、前記移動体を何れか一方に移動した際に前記ねじりコイルバネの一方の引出部が移動体の当接部によって押圧されて移動するとともに、他方の引出部が前記引出部係止部に係止された状態を維持することで、移動体に中立位置への弾性復帰力を生じさせることを特徴とする。ここでねじりコイルバネとは、コイルの両端の巻き終わり端部を伸ばした引出部同士の間隔をコイルの接線方向に縮めたり広げたりすることで復帰力を生じさせるバネをいう。
【０００９】
また請求項２に記載の発明は、前記両引出部が同一面上に位置し、前記コイル部が前記移動体の側方に位置するとともに、該コイル部の厚みの少なくとも一部が移動体の厚みの中に含まれることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。図１は本発明にかかるスライド式電子部品１を示す概略断面図（図２のＢ−Ｂ線部分の断面図）であり、図２は本発明にかかるスライド式電子部品１の分解斜視図である。スライド式電子部品１は基台１０上に、フレキシブル基板２０と、摺動子４０を取り付けた移動体（以下「摺動型物」という）３０と、ねじりコイルバネ５０を取り付けた固定側部材（以下「ケース」という。）６０とつまみ７０とを設置して構成されている。以下各構成物品について説明する。
【００１１】
基台１０は金属やモールド樹脂等の硬質板によって構成され、その四隅には貫通穴１１が設けられている。フレキシブル基板２０は可撓性を有する合成樹脂フイルム２１上に所望のパターン（図ではスイッチパターンであるが、抵抗体パターンなどでも良い。）２３を形成し、その四隅に貫通穴２４を設けて構成されている。
【００１２】
図３は摺動型物３０を上側から見た斜視図である。図２及び図３に示すように、摺動型物３０は合成樹脂製であり、略平板状で矩形状に構成された土台部３１の上面に、矩形状であって土台部３１よりも摺動方向Ａの長さが短く構成された引出部当接用突起部３２を一体成形して構成されている。そして引出部当接用突起部３２を土台部３１よりも短くすることで、引出部当接用突起部３２のＡ方向の両端面と土台部３１の上面とによって一対の凹部３４，３４を形成している。さらに引出部当接用突起部３２のＡ方向の両端面の下記するコイル部５２，５２から離れた側の端部には、Ａ方向に向かって互いに逆向きに突出する一対の当接部３３，３３が設けられている。この当接部３３，３３は、下記するねじりコイルバネ５０の引出部５３，５３に当接して引出部５３，５３を押圧するが、上記のように当接部３３，３３を摺動型物３０の凹部３４内においてコイル部５２，５２から離れた側の端部に設けたので、逆に当接部３３，３３を摺動型物３０の凹部３４内においてコイル部５２，５２に近い側の端部に設けた場合に比べて、コイル部５３，５３から当接部３３，３３に当接するまでの引出部５３，５３の長さを長くでき、これによって摺動型物３０を矢印Ａ方向に摺動して一方の当接部３３が引出部５３を押圧してコイル部５２を開いていった際、引出部５３の根元部分の移動角度の変化量を少なくできてコイル部５２を開く量を少なくでき、これによって摺動型物３０が何れの位置に移動してもほぼ均一でスムーズな弾発力を付与できる。さらに、引出部当接用突起部３２には下記するつまみ７０の固定用突起７２を挿入する貫通孔からなる挿入穴３５，３５が設けられている。
【００１３】
一方図２に示すように、摺動型物３０の土台部３１の下面には凹状の摺動子収納部３６が設けられ、その底面からは突起状の摺動子固定部３７及び位置決め部３８が突出している。なお、前記挿入穴３５，３５の下部はこの摺動子収納部３６内に開口している。
【００１４】
摺動子４０は図２に示すように、導電性を有する弾性金属板製であり、平板状の基部４１の一端から２本の摺動冊子４３，４３を突出してこれらを下側に折り曲げて構成されている。基部４１には固定用穴４４及び位置決め用穴４５が設けられている。
【００１５】
ねじりコイルバネ５０は弾性を有する金属製の線材を、その中央を略直線状の連結部５１とし、連結部５１の両端を所定回数巻き回すことでコイル部５２，５２を形成し、さらにコイル部５２，５２から引出部５３，５３を引き出して構成されている。
【００１６】
この際、コイル部５２，５２は何れも同じ回数（この実施形態では２回半）逆回転で同一方向（上方向）に向かって巻き回すことで、引出部５３，５３が共に同じ高さで同じ方向（コイル部５２の厚み方向に略直角方向、且つ連結部５１に対して略直角方向）を向くようにしている。これにより、引出部５３，５３が同一面上に形成され、その面から一方側にコイル部５２，５２が突出した状態となる。なお、引出部５３，５３を同一面上に形成したため、摺動型物３０をスライド移動した際に摺動型物３０にかかるＡ方向の力が同一面上に位置することとなり、スライド移動がスムーズに行える。一方、連結部５１の中央部分にはコイル部５２，５２の巻き回し方向（上方向）と同じ方向に向かってく字状に折り曲げられたバネ位置補正部５４が設けられている。バネ位置補正部５４は、その側面が下記するケース６０のバネ当接部６８に当接する。
【００１７】
次に、図２に示すケース６０は合成樹脂を略板状に成形して構成されており、その周囲に下方向に向かって突出する枠６０ａを形成することでケース６０の下面に凹状の収納部６１を形成している。ケース６０の中央には下記するつまみ７０の連結部７１及び固定用突起７２を挿入・貫通する長方形状の貫通穴６２が設けられている。ケース６０下面の貫通穴６２の摺動子４０の摺動方向Ａと平行な二辺には板状のガイド壁６３，６３が設けられている。ガイド壁６３，６３は互いに対向する内側の面６３ａ，６３ａが摺動型物３０の摺動方向Ａと平行な両側面３０ａ，３０ａに当接する幅に設けられており、摺動型物３０はガイド壁６３，６３の内側にスライド自在に収納される。
【００１８】
そして一方のガイド壁６３の両端近傍には、ねじりコイルバネ５０のコイル部５２，５２中央の穴５２ａ，５２ａに挿入される円柱状の突起６４，６４がケース６０の底面から下方向に向かって設けられ、他方のガイド壁６３の両端近傍には、下方向に向けて柱状に突出する係止突起６５，６５が設けられている。突起６４，６４の径はコイル部５２，５２の穴５２ａ，５２ａの径と略同一となっており、穴５２ａ，５２ａの内側に突起６４，６４をはめ込むことで、ねじりコイルバネ５０がケース６０に固定されるようになっている。また、係止突起６５，６５にはパイプ状の例えばゴム製又は合成樹脂製等からなる弾性体６６，６６を取り付けることで、引出部係止部６９，６９を構成している。
【００１９】
さらにケース６０下面の四隅からは、基台１０及びフレキシブル基板２０を固定するための突起６７が下方向に向かって設けられている。また、ケース６０にねじりコイルバネ５０を収納・固定した際のバネ位置補正部５４に対向する位置には、枠６２の内側面から突出するバネ当接部６８が設けられている。このバネ当接部６８は、枠６２の下方から上方に向かってその突出高さが高くなっていく傾斜面となっている。
【００２０】
次につまみ７０は、合成樹脂を略平板状で長方形状に成形して構成されており、その下面中央から前記ケース６０の貫通孔６２の幅よりも少し小さい幅の連結部７１を下方向に突出し、連結部７１の下端面両側から前記摺動型物３０の挿入穴３５，３５に挿通される寸法形状の固定用突起７２，７２を突出して構成されている。
【００２１】
次にこのスライド式電子部品１の組立方法を説明する。まず、予め摺動型物３０の摺動子収納部３６内に摺動子４０を取り付ける。その際摺動子固定部３７及び位置決め部３８を摺動子４０の固定用穴４４及び位置決め用穴４５に挿入し、摺動子固定部３７の先端を熱カシメして固定する。
【００２２】
一方、ケース６０の突起６４，６４をねじりコイルバネ５０のコイル部５２，５２の穴５２ａ，５２ａにはめ込んで、ねじりコイルバネ５０をケース６０の収納部６１内に固定する。このとき、ケース６０のバネ当接部６８にねじりコイルバネ５０のバネ位置補正部５４が当接し、連結部５１を、両引出部５３，５３がフレキシブル基板２０等の電気的機能部側に傾くようにねじる。これによって図１に示すように、コイル部５２，５２の穴５２ａ，５２ａの内周面と突起６４，６４の外周面との隙間分だけコイル部５２，５２は突起６４に対して傾いて固定されるので、その分両引出部５３，５３側が下に傾き、これにより引出部５３の先端はケース６０下面から若干離れた状態に維持される。
【００２３】
またこのとき、引出部５３，５３の対向する内側部分が引出部係止部６９，６９に当接（弾接）して係止された状態になっている（図４（ａ）参照）。なお、収納部６１内に固定する前のねじりコイルバネ５０の引出部５３，５３間の幅は、引出部係止部６９，６９間の幅よりも小さくなっており、ねじりコイルバネ５０を収納部６１内に固定する際に引出部５３，５３間を一度広げてその間に引出部当接部６９，６９を挟み込むことで、引出部５３，５３は引出部係止部６９，６９に強く弾接した状態となる。なお、引出部５３，５３先端間の幅をコイル部５２，５２間の幅よりも小さくするように弾接させることで、両引出部５３，５３間に位置する下記する摺動型物３０のＡ方向の小型化を図ることができる。
【００２４】
そして図２において、ねじりコイルバネ５０を取り付けたケース６０の両ガイド壁６３，６３の内側に摺動子４０を取り付けた摺動型物３０を収納する。これによって図４（ａ）に示すように、摺動型物３０の外周を囲むようにねじりコイルバネ５０が配置されたことになる。次に、ケース６０の上側からつまみ７０の連結部７１及び固定用突起７２，７２をケース６０の貫通穴６２に通し、貫通穴６２の下側にある摺動型物３０の貫通穴３５，３５に固定用突起７２，７２を貫通させ、その先端を熱カシメしてつまみ７０と摺動型物３０及びケース６０を一体化する。
【００２５】
そして、ケース６０の四本の突起６７をフレキシブル基板２０の貫通穴２４及び基台１０の貫通穴１１に貫通させ貫通穴１１の下側から突出した突起６７の先端部を熱カシメしてこれらを一体に固定すればスライド式電子部品１が完成する。
【００２６】
次にこのスライド式電子部品１の動作を説明する。まずつまみ７０を摺動方向Ａにスライド移動すれば摺動型物３０がガイド壁６３，６３の内側を摺動方向Ａにスライド移動し、これによって摺動冊子４３がパターン２３上を摺動し、その出力（この実施形態ではスイッチのオンオフ出力）を変化する。
【００２７】
一方つまみ７０と摺動型物３０はねじりコイルバネ５０の作用によって常に中立位置に自動復帰しようとする。図４（ａ）〜（ｃ）は摺動型物３０のねじりコイルバネ５０による中立位置への自動復帰動作説明図である。即ち摺動型物３０に外部から操作力がかけられていない場合は、図４（ａ）に示すように、ねじりコイルバネ５０の両引出部５３，５３はケース６０の両引出部係止部６９，６９にそれぞれ当接（弾接）し、同時に両引出部５３，５３の内側に摺動子３０の引出部当接用突起部３２が位置してその両当接部３３，３３に当接し、これによって摺動型物３０は中立位置に位置している。
【００２８】
そして図４（ｂ）に示すように摺動型物３０を一方の方向Ａ１にスライド移動させた場合、一方の引出部（Ａ１方向と反対側の引出部）５３が引出部係止部６９に当接したまま、他方の引出部（Ａ１方向側の引出部）５３が摺動型物３０の当接部３３に押圧されて引出部係止部６９から離れるので、Ａ１方向側の引出部５３には元の形状への弾性復帰力が働き、摺動型物３０への中立位置への自動復帰力が働く。従って摺動型物３０への操作力を解除すると、摺動型物３０は図４（ａ）に示す中立位置へ自動復帰する。摺動型物３０の中立位置への自動復帰の際、Ａ１方向側の引出部５３が引出部係止部６９に当接するが、引出部係止部６９の外周は弾性体６６によって構成されているので音が発生することはない。一方、摺動型物３０を図４（ｃ）に示すように反対の方向Ａ２にスライド移動させた場合も、上記と同様に摺動型物３０には中立位置への自動復帰力が働く。
【００２９】
以上、本発明の一実施の形態にかかるスライド式電子部品１について説明したが、このスライド式電子部品１においては、中立位置への自動復帰のための弾発手段であるねじりコイルバネ５０の厚みがコイル部５２，５２の厚み分しかないので、従来のように圧縮コイルバネを用いる場合に比べてその厚みの薄型化が図れる。
【００３０】
特にこのスライド式電子部品１においては、コイル部５２，５２が摺動型物５０の側方に位置するようにねじりコイルバネ５０を配置することで、ねじりコイルバネ５０と摺動型物３０とがスライド式電子部品１の厚み方向に重なり合わないようにしているため、スライド式電子部品１の薄型化が図れる。即ち具体的に上記実施の形態にかかるスライド式電子部品１においては図３に示すように、摺動型物（移動体）３０の凹部３４、３４内に、引出部５３，５３を配置し、さらにねじりコイルバネ５０の両引出部５３，５３が形成する面から突出するコイル部５２，５２を、摺動型物３０の電気機能部（摺動子４０やフレキシブル基板２０上のパターン２３等）を設けた面側を向くように配置することで、ねじりコイルバネ５０の厚みＬ´を摺動型物３０等の移動体の厚みＬ内に収めている。これにより、両者を重ね合わせた場合と比べて、ねじりコイルバネ５０用の厚み、すなわちＬ´分の厚みの薄型化になる。同様にＬ＜Ｌ´の場合も重ね合わせた場合と比べてＬ分の薄型化になる。なお他の実施の形態として、引出部５３，５３を電気的機能部側に設置して、コイル部５２，５２を電気的機能部と反対の方向（つまみ７０が配置された方向）に突出させてもよい。要はコイル部５２，５２の厚みの少なくとも一部を摺動型物３０の厚みの中に含ませるようにすれば良い。
【００３１】
ところで上記実施の形態にかかるスライド式電子部品１において、図１に示すように、ケース６０のバネ当接部６８にねじりコイルバネ５０のバネ位置補正部５４を当接して連結部５１をねじることで、ケース６０の下面に対して両引出部５３，５３を少し下向きに傾けて引出部５３，５３の先端がケース６０下面から若干離れるように構成したが、これは以下の理由による。即ち図１に示すように、摺動型物３０の上面とケース６０の下面との間には、多少の隙間ａが生じるので、摺動型物３０をスライド移動させた際に引出部５３が隙間ａに入り込んでしまう恐れがある。そこで、前述のように引出部５３，５３の先端を下方に傾けてケース６０下面から若干離れるように構成することで、引出部５３，５３が隙間ａに入り込む恐れを全く解消し、常に確実に当接部３３に当接するようにしたのである。
【００３２】
以上本発明の実施の形態を説明したが、本発明は上記実施の形態に限定されるものではなく、特許請求の範囲、及び明細書と図面に記載された技術的思想の範囲内において種々の変形が可能である。なお、直接明細書及び図面に記載がない何れの形状や構造や材質であっても、本願発明の作用・効果を奏する以上、本願発明の技術的思想の範囲内である。例えば上記実施の形態においては、ねじりコイルバネ５０のコイル部５２を２個設けたが、コイル部は１個又は３個以上であってもよい。図５に他のねじりコイルバネ５０−２の一例を示す。このねじりコイルバネ５０−２は線材を２ターン弱コイル状に巻き回したコイル部５２−２を１個設け、その両端を半径方向外側に向けて折り曲げて引き伸ばして連結部５１−２，５１−２とし、連結部５１−２，５１−２の両端を略直角に折り曲げてその先を引出部５３−２，５３−２としている。このねじりコイルバネ５０−２は、コイル部５２−２において、一方の線材が隣接する他方の線材をその外側（又は内側）から乗り越えることによって、両端の引出部５３−２，５３−２が同一面（この実施形態ではコイル部５２−２の下側の面）に位置するように構成している。
【００３３】
また上記実施の形態では消音のために係止突起６５の外周に弾性体６６を取り付けて引出部係止部６９を構成したが、弾性体６６を省略して係止突起６５だけで引出部係止部６９を構成してもよい。また上記実施の形態では摺動子４０とパターン２３によって電気的機能部を構成したが、他の各種構造の電気的機能部であってもよく、要は移動体の移動によって電気的出力を変化する電気的機能部であればどのような構造のものであってもよい。また上記実施の形態ではねじりコイルバネ５０のコイル部５２を２回半コイル状に巻き回して構成したが、他のターン数だけ巻き回して構成してもよい。
【００３４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明によれば、以下のような優れた効果を有する。
▲１▼ねじりコイルバネの厚みがコイル部の厚み分しかないので、スライド式電子部品全体の厚みの薄型化が図れる。
【００３５】
▲２▼ねじりコイルバネの両引出部を同一面上に位置させたので、移動体の何れの方向への移動もスムーズに行なえるようになる。
【００３６】
▲３▼コイル部を移動体の側方に位置させるとともに、コイル部の厚みの少なくとも一部を移動体の厚みの中に含めたので、スライド式電子部品全体の薄型化が図れる。
【００３７】
▲４▼ねじりコイルバネの引出部を移動させることで発生する弾発力を利用するので、移動体によるねじりコイルバネ押圧時に音が発生しない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施の形態にかかるスライド式電子部品１の概略側断面図である。
【図２】本発明の一実施の形態にかかるスライド式電子部品１の分解斜視図である。
【図３】摺動型物３０を示す図である
【図４】スライド式電子部品１の動作説明図である。
【図５】他のねじりコイルバネ５０−２を示す図である。
【図６】従来の自動復帰手段の問題点の説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１スライド式電子部品
１０基台（固定側部材）
２０フレキシブル基板（電気的機能部）
２３パターン（電気的機能部）
３０摺動型物（移動体）
３１土台部
３２引出部当接用突起部
３３当接部
３４突起
４０摺動子（電気的機能部）
５０ねじりコイルバネ
５１連結部
５２コイル部
５３引出部
５４バネ位置補正部
６０ケース（固定側部材）
６１収納部
６０ａ枠
６２貫通穴
６３ガイド壁
６４突起
６８バネ当接部
６９引出部係止部
７０つまみ
７１連結部
７２固定用突起[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sliding electronic component such as a sliding variable resistor and a sliding switch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sliding electronic component has a sliding member to which a slider is attached, slidably attached to a fixed member such as a case, and the slider slides on the lower side of the sliding member. A structure in which a substrate provided with a contact pattern is arranged, and a slider attached to the slide-type object is slid to move the slider in sliding contact with the sliding contact pattern, thereby changing its electrical output. It had been.
[0003]
On the other hand, as a means for automatically returning a knob and a sliding-type object to a predetermined position in a sliding electronic component having the above structure, for example, a compression coil spring as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been used. Here, the compression coil spring refers to a spring that generates a restoring force by being compressed or pulled in the direction of the center axis of the coil.
[0004]
However, when the compression coil spring is used as the automatic return means of the sliding electronic component, there are the following problems.
{Circle around (1)} Since the compression coil spring is mounted in the sliding electronic component such that the coil center axis is parallel to the moving direction of the sliding type object, at least the compression coil spring is housed in the sliding electronic component. In the thickness direction, a storage space with a thickness equal to the diameter of the compression coil spring is required, and even if the slide-type electronic component is reduced in size and thickness, the slide-type electronic component cannot be reduced in thickness beyond the storage space. .
[0005]
(2) For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), a part of the end surface of the compression coil spring 200 is in contact with the contact surface 211 of the fixed member 210 such as a case, and the other part is a moving body 220 such as a sliding type object. 5B, the compression coil spring 200 is compressed by moving the moving body 220 in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 5B, but the end face 221 of the moving body 220 is compressed during this compression. 5C, the spring end 201 of the compression coil spring 200 may come off the moving body 220 as shown in FIG. 5C, and at this time, the next end face 203 of the spring end 201 is brought into contact with the contact surface 221 of the moving body 220. A loud noise was sometimes generated by a strong collision with the vehicle.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-273484
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slide-type electronic component that can be reduced in thickness and that does not generate sound when a moving body presses a resilient unit. is there.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a moving body slidably attached to a fixed side member, and an electric function unit that changes an electric output by moving the moving body. In the sliding electronic component, a coil portion is provided by winding a wire, and a torsion coil spring having both ends of the wire as a lead portion is attached to the fixed-side member. The movable body is provided with a contact portion located between the two drawers and in contact with the two drawers. When the torsion coil spring moves to one side, one of the drawer portions of the torsion coil spring is pressed by the contact portion of the moving body and moves, and the other drawer portion is kept in a state of being locked by the drawer portion locking portion. Doing, and wherein the generating an elastic restoring force to the neutral position to the mobile. Here, the torsion coil spring refers to a spring that generates a restoring force by reducing or expanding the interval between the drawn-out portions that extend the winding end portions of both ends of the coil in the tangential direction of the coil.
[0009]
Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the two lead-out portions are located on the same surface, the coil portion is located on a side of the moving body, and at least a part of the thickness of the coil portion is that of the moving body. It is characterized by being included in the thickness.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2) showing a sliding electronic component 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding electronic component 1 according to the present invention. is there. The sliding electronic component 1 has a flexible substrate 20, a moving body (hereinafter referred to as a “sliding object”) 30 on which a slider 40 is mounted, and a fixed side member (hereinafter, referred to as a “sliding object”) on which a torsion coil spring 50 is mounted. The case is referred to as a "case." Hereinafter, each constituent article will be described.
[0011]
The base 10 is made of a hard plate such as a metal or a mold resin, and has through holes 11 at four corners. The flexible substrate 20 is formed by forming a desired pattern (a switch pattern in the figure, but a resistor pattern or the like) 23 on a flexible synthetic resin film 21 and providing through holes 24 at the four corners. Have been.
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding die 30 as viewed from above. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sliding-type object 30 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed on a top surface of a base 31 having a substantially flat plate shape and a rectangular shape. The length of the moving direction A is short, and the protrusion 32 for contacting the drawer portion is integrally formed. By making the protrusion 32 for the abutting portion abutment shorter than the base 31, a pair of recesses 34, 34 are formed by both end surfaces in the direction A of the protrusion 32 for the abutting portion and the upper surface of the base 31. are doing. Furthermore, a pair of abutting portions 33 projecting in opposite directions toward the A direction are provided at the ends of the both end surfaces in the A direction of the drawer portion abutting projection portion 32 in the direction away from the following coil portions 52, 52. , 33 are provided. The contact portions 33, 33 abut against the drawing portions 53, 53 of the torsion coil spring 50 described below to press the drawing portions 53, 53. Are provided at the ends on the side remote from the coil portions 52, 52 in the concave portion 34 of the sliding type object 30. Conversely, the contact portions 33, 33 are formed in the concave portion 34 of the sliding mold 30 on the side close to the coil portions 52, 52. Compared with the case where it is provided at the end, the length of the lead-out portions 53, 53 from the coil portions 53, 53 to contact with the contact portions 33, 33 can be made longer, whereby the sliding mold 30 can be moved in the direction of arrow A. When the one contact portion 33 presses the pull-out portion 53 to open the coil portion 52, the amount of change in the movement angle of the root portion of the pull-out portion 53 can be reduced, and the coil portion 52 opens. The amount can be reduced, so that the sliding object 30 moves to any position. Pot uniform can impart a smooth resilient force. Further, the drawer contacting projection 32 is provided with insertion holes 35, 35 each formed of a through hole into which a fixing projection 72 of a knob 70 described below is inserted.
[0013]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a concave slider housing 36 is provided on the lower surface of the base 31 of the sliding die 30, and a slider holder 37 and a positioning portion 38 projecting from the bottom thereof. Is protruding. The lower portions of the insertion holes 35, 35 are opened in the slider housing portion 36.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 40 is made of a conductive elastic metal plate, and projects two sliding booklets 43, 43 from one end of a flat base 41 and bends them downward. It is configured. The base 41 is provided with a fixing hole 44 and a positioning hole 45.
[0015]
The torsion coil spring 50 is formed by winding a metal wire having elasticity into a substantially linear connecting portion 51 at the center thereof and winding both ends of the connecting portion 51 a predetermined number of times to form the coil portions 52, 52. , 52 are drawn out of the drawer portions 53, 53.
[0016]
At this time, the coil portions 52, 52 are wound in the same direction (upward) by the same number of times (two and a half times in this embodiment) in reverse rotation, so that both the drawer portions 53, 53 have the same height. They are oriented in the same direction (a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction of the coil portion 52 and a direction substantially perpendicular to the connecting portion 51). As a result, the lead portions 53, 53 are formed on the same surface, and the coil portions 52, 52 project from the surface to one side. Since the draw-out portions 53, 53 are formed on the same plane, the force in the direction A applied to the sliding mold 30 when the sliding mold 30 is slid is located on the same plane, and the sliding movement is reduced. It can be done smoothly. On the other hand, a spring position correcting portion 54 is provided in the center of the connecting portion 51 and bent in a C-shape in the same direction as the winding direction (upward) of the coil portions 52, 52. The side surface of the spring position correcting section 54 contacts a spring contact section 68 of the case 60 described below.
[0017]
Next, the case 60 shown in FIG. 2 is formed by molding a synthetic resin into a substantially plate shape, and by forming a frame 60a protruding downward around the case 60, a concave housing is formed on the lower surface of the case 60. A part 61 is formed. At the center of the case 60, there is provided a rectangular through hole 62 through which a connecting portion 71 and a fixing projection 72 of a knob 70 described below are inserted and penetrated. Plate-like guide walls 63 are provided on two sides of the through hole 62 on the lower surface of the case 60 in parallel with the sliding direction A of the slider 40. The guide walls 63, 63 are provided such that the inner surfaces 63a, 63a facing each other abut on both side surfaces 30a, 30a parallel to the sliding direction A of the sliding mold 30. It is slidably stored inside the guide walls 63, 63.
[0018]
In the vicinity of both ends of one guide wall 63, cylindrical projections 64, 64 inserted into the holes 52 a, 52 a in the center of the coil portions 52, 52 of the torsion coil spring 50 are provided downward from the bottom surface of the case 60. In the vicinity of both ends of the other guide wall 63, locking projections 65, 65 projecting downward in a columnar shape are provided. The diameter of the projections 64, 64 is substantially the same as the diameter of the holes 52a, 52a of the coil portions 52, 52. By fitting the projections 64, 64 inside the holes 52a, 52a, the torsion coil spring 50 is attached to the case 60. It is fixed. The draw-out portion locking portions 69, 69 are formed by attaching elastic members 66, 66 made of, for example, rubber or synthetic resin to the locking protrusions 65, 65.
[0019]
Further, projections 67 for fixing the base 10 and the flexible substrate 20 are provided downward from the four corners of the lower surface of the case 60. A spring contact portion 68 protruding from the inner side surface of the frame 62 is provided at a position facing the spring position correction portion 54 when the torsion coil spring 50 is stored and fixed in the case 60. The spring contact portion 68 is an inclined surface whose protruding height increases upward from below the frame 62.
[0020]
Next, the knob 70 is formed by molding a synthetic resin into a substantially flat plate and a rectangular shape. The connecting portion 71 having a width slightly smaller than the width of the through hole 62 of the case 60 is formed downward from the center of the lower surface. The protrusions are configured to protrude from both lower end surfaces of the connecting portion 71 so as to have fixing protrusions 72, 72 having dimensions and shapes to be inserted into the insertion holes 35, 35 of the sliding die 30.
[0021]
Next, a method of assembling the electronic component 1 will be described. First, the slider 40 is mounted in the slider housing portion 36 of the sliding type object 30 in advance. At that time, the slider fixing portion 37 and the positioning portion 38 are inserted into the fixing hole 44 and the positioning hole 45 of the slider 40, and the tip of the slider fixing portion 37 is fixed by heat caulking.
[0022]
On the other hand, the projections 64, 64 of the case 60 are fitted into the holes 52a, 52a of the coil portions 52, 52 of the torsion coil spring 50, and the torsion coil spring 50 is fixed in the storage portion 61 of the case 60. At this time, the spring position correcting portion 54 of the torsion coil spring 50 abuts against the spring abutting portion 68 of the case 60, and the connecting portion 51 is tilted so that both the lead portions 53, 53 are inclined toward the electrical functioning portion such as the flexible substrate 20 or the like. Twist. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1, the coil portions 52, 52 are inclined and fixed to the projection 64 by a gap between the inner peripheral surfaces of the holes 52 a, 52 a of the coil portions 52, 52 and the outer peripheral surfaces of the projections 64, 64. As a result, the two drawers 53 and 53 sides are tilted downward by that amount, whereby the tip of the drawer 53 is maintained in a state slightly separated from the lower surface of the case 60.
[0023]
Also, at this time, the inside portions of the drawer portions 53, 53 facing each other are brought into contact (elastic contact) with the drawer locking portions 69, 69 and locked (see FIG. 4A). The width between the lead portions 53 of the torsion coil spring 50 before being fixed in the storage portion 61 is smaller than the width between the drawer locking portions 69, 69, and the torsion coil spring 50 is stored in the storage portion 61. When the drawer portions 53, 53 are fixed inside the drawer portions 53, 53, the drawer portions 53, 53 strongly elastically contact the drawer locking portions 69, 69 by interposing the drawer contact portions 69, 69 therebetween. State. In addition, by making the width between the leading ends of the drawing portions 53, 53 elastically contact with each other so as to be smaller than the width between the coil portions 52, 52, the sliding type object 30 described below located between the drawing portions 53, 53 is formed. The size in the direction A can be reduced.
[0024]
Then, in FIG. 2, the sliding type object 30 to which the slider 40 is attached is housed inside both the guide walls 63, 63 of the case 60 to which the torsion coil spring 50 is attached. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the torsion coil spring 50 is arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the sliding die 30. Next, the connecting portion 71 of the knob 70 and the fixing projections 72 are passed through the through-hole 62 of the case 60 from above the case 60, and the through-holes 35, 35 of the sliding object 30 below the through-hole 62. Then, the fixing projections 72, 72 are made to penetrate, and the tip is thermally caulked to integrate the knob 70 with the sliding mold 30 and the case 60.
[0025]
Then, the four protrusions 67 of the case 60 are passed through the through hole 24 of the flexible substrate 20 and the through hole 11 of the base 10, and the tip portions of the protrusions 67 protruding from the lower side of the through hole 11 are caulked by heat. If they are fixed together, the sliding electronic component 1 is completed.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the sliding electronic component 1 will be described. First, when the knob 70 is slid in the sliding direction A, the sliding object 30 slides inside the guide walls 63, 63 in the sliding direction A, whereby the sliding book 43 slides on the pattern 23. , Its output (in this embodiment, the on / off output of the switch).
[0027]
On the other hand, the knob 70 and the sliding object 30 always try to automatically return to the neutral position by the action of the torsion coil spring 50. FIGS. 4A to 4C are explanatory views of the automatic return operation of the sliding type object 30 to the neutral position by the torsion coil spring 50. FIG. That is, when no operation force is applied to the sliding type object 30 from the outside, as shown in FIG. 4A, both the extraction portions 53 of the torsion coil spring 50 are engaged with the both extraction portion locking portions 69 of the case 60. , 69, respectively, and at the same time, the protrusions 32 for contacting the drawer portions of the slider 30 are located inside the two drawer portions 53, 53, and come into contact with the contact portions 33, 33. Thus, the sliding type object 30 is located at the neutral position.
[0028]
When the sliding mold 30 is slid in one direction A1 as shown in FIG. 4B, one of the drawers 53 (the drawer opposite to the direction A1) is connected to the drawer locking part 69. While being in contact, the other drawer portion (the drawer portion in the A1 direction) 53 is pressed by the contact portion 33 of the sliding object 30 and separates from the drawer locking portion 69, so that the drawer portion 53 in the A1 direction side. , An elastic return force to the original shape acts, and an automatic return force to the sliding type object 30 to the neutral position acts. Therefore, when the operating force on the sliding object 30 is released, the sliding object 30 automatically returns to the neutral position shown in FIG. When the sliding type object 30 is automatically returned to the neutral position, the drawer 53 in the A1 direction comes into contact with the drawer engaging portion 69, and the outer periphery of the drawer engaging portion 69 is constituted by an elastic body 66. There is no sound. On the other hand, when the sliding mold 30 is slid in the opposite direction A2 as shown in FIG. 4C, an automatic return force to the neutral position is applied to the sliding mold 30 in the same manner as described above.
[0029]
As described above, the slide type electronic component 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described. In this slide type electronic component 1, the thickness of the torsion coil spring 50 which is a resilient means for automatically returning to the neutral position is reduced. Since there is only the thickness of the coil portions 52, 52, the thickness can be reduced as compared with the conventional case using a compression coil spring.
[0030]
In particular, in the sliding electronic component 1, the torsion coil spring 50 and the sliding-type object 30 slide by disposing the torsion coil spring 50 so that the coil portions 52, 52 are located on the sides of the sliding-type object 50. Since the electronic components 1 do not overlap in the thickness direction, the thickness of the electronic component 1 can be reduced. Specifically, in the sliding electronic component 1 according to the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawers 53, 53 are arranged in the recesses 34, 34 of the sliding object (moving body) 30, Further, the coil portions 52, 52 protruding from the surface formed by the two extraction portions 53, 53 of the torsion coil spring 50 are connected to the electric functional portions (the slider 40, the pattern 23 on the flexible substrate 20, etc.) of the sliding die 30. The thickness L 'of the torsion coil spring 50 is accommodated in the thickness L of the movable body such as the sliding type object 30 by arranging the torsion coil spring 50 so as to face the provided surface side. As a result, the thickness for the torsion coil spring 50, that is, the thickness corresponding to L 'is reduced as compared with the case where both are overlapped. Similarly, in the case of L <L ', the thickness is reduced by L as compared with the case of superimposition. As another embodiment, the drawer portions 53, 53 are installed on the electrical function portion side, and the coil portions 52, 52 are made to protrude in the direction opposite to the electrical function portion (the direction in which the knob 70 is arranged). You may. In short, at least a part of the thickness of the coil portions 52, 52 may be included in the thickness of the sliding mold 30.
[0031]
By the way, in the slide-type electronic component 1 according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring position correcting portion 54 of the torsion coil spring 50 is brought into contact with the spring contact portion 68 of the case 60 and the connecting portion 51 is twisted. The drawers 53, 53 are slightly inclined downward with respect to the lower surface of the case 60 so that the tips of the drawers 53, 53 are slightly separated from the lower surface of the case 60, for the following reason. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a slight gap a is formed between the upper surface of the sliding die 30 and the lower surface of the case 60, so that when the sliding die 30 is slid, the drawer 53 is moved. There is a risk of entering the gap a. Therefore, as described above, the distal ends of the lead portions 53, 53 are tilted downward so as to be slightly away from the lower surface of the case 60, so that the risk that the lead portions 53, 53 enter the gap a is completely eliminated, and the lead portions 53, 53 are always reliably provided. The contact portion 33 comes into contact.
[0032]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and the technical idea described in the specification and the drawings. Deformation is possible. It should be noted that any shape, structure, or material that is not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above embodiment, two coil portions 52 of the torsion coil spring 50 are provided, but one or three or more coil portions may be provided. FIG. 5 shows an example of another torsion coil spring 50-2. The torsion coil spring 50-2 is provided with one coil portion 52-2 in which a wire is wound into a coil shape for two turns, and both ends thereof are bent outward in the radial direction and stretched to form connecting portions 51-2, 51-2. Both ends of the connecting portions 51-2, 51-2 are bent at substantially right angles, and the ends thereof are formed as leading portions 53-2, 53-2. In the torsion coil spring 50-2, in the coil portion 52-2, one of the wire members passes over the adjacent other wire material from outside (or inside), so that the lead portions 53-2, 53-2 at both ends are on the same plane. (In this embodiment, it is configured to be located on the lower surface of the coil portion 52-2).
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the elastic member 66 is attached to the outer periphery of the locking protrusion 65 to mute the sound, and the drawer locking portion 69 is formed. The stop 69 may be configured. In the above-described embodiment, the electric function unit is configured by the slider 40 and the pattern 23. However, the electric function unit may have other various structures. Any structure may be used as long as it is an electrical functioning unit. In the above embodiment, the coil portion 52 of the torsion coil spring 50 is wound twice into a half coil shape, but may be wound by another number of turns.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are obtained.
{Circle around (1)} Since the thickness of the torsion coil spring is only as large as the thickness of the coil portion, the thickness of the entire sliding electronic component can be reduced.
[0035]
{Circle around (2)} Since the two draw-out portions of the torsion coil spring are located on the same plane, the moving body can be smoothly moved in any direction.
[0036]
{Circle around (3)} Since the coil portion is located on the side of the moving body and at least a part of the thickness of the coil portion is included in the thickness of the moving body, the overall thickness of the sliding electronic component can be reduced.
[0037]
(4) Since the elastic force generated by moving the drawer of the torsion coil spring is used, no sound is generated when the moving body presses the torsion coil spring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a slide-type electronic component 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding electronic component 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a sliding type object 30; FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the sliding electronic component 1;
FIG. 5 is a view showing another torsion coil spring 50-2.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a problem of a conventional automatic return unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 sliding electronic component 10 base (fixed side member)
20 Flexible board (electrical function part)
23 patterns (electrical function part)
30 Sliding type (moving body)
31 base part 32 drawer part contact projection 33 contact part 34 projection 40 slider (electrical function part)
Reference Signs List 50 torsion coil spring 51 connecting part 52 coil part 53 drawing part 54 spring position correcting part 60 case (fixed side member)
61 Storage section 60a Frame 62 Through hole 63 Guide wall 64 Projection 68 Spring contact section 69 Pullout section locking section 70 Knob 71 Connection section 72 Fixing projection

Claims

In a sliding electronic component including a moving body slidably attached to the fixed side member, and an electric function unit that changes an electrical output by moving the moving body,
A coil portion is provided by winding a wire, and a torsion coil spring having both ends of the wire as a lead portion is attached to the fixed-side member. Providing a drawer locking part to lock,
On the other hand, the moving body is provided with a contact portion that is located between the two drawers and is in contact with both the drawers,
When the moving body is moved to either one of the torsion coil springs, one of the torsion coil springs is pressed and moved by the contact portion of the moving body, and the other of the torsion coil springs is locked by the withdrawing section locking section. A sliding electronic component, which generates an elastic return force to a neutral position by maintaining the movable body in a neutral position.

The drawer portions are located on the same plane, the coil portion is located on a side of the moving body, and at least a part of the thickness of the coil portion is included in the thickness of the moving body. The sliding electronic component according to claim 1.