JP2005228547A - Switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch unit used mainly for operating various electronic apparatuses in an automobile, the switch unit having a simple structure, allowing easy operation and capable of being reduced in size. <P>SOLUTION: By making a rotational operation of a rotational operation type electronic component 2 through rotating a rotor 4 and by making a pressing operation of a push-button switch 7 through pressing the rotor 4, it becomes unnecessary to take a finger off at each operation even when performing a plurality of operations such as selection, decision and storing, and a plurality of operations of rotation and pressing are possible while the finger stays off the rotor 4. In addition, downward movement of the rotor 4 allows a first gear 4D to move away from a second gear 2A of the rotational operation type electronic component 2, so that an erroneous rotation of the electronic component 2 can hardly occur. The switch unit having a simple structure, allowing easy operation and capable of being reduced in size is thus obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch unit mainly used for operation of various electronic devices such as audio and air conditioners in automobiles.

  In recent years, various electronic devices such as audio and air conditioners have been mounted in automobiles, and electronic components such as switches are arranged on the pad outer periphery at the center of the steering wheel, and the devices are operated while holding the steering wheel with the steering switch. Things have been done.

  Such a steering switch is provided with a plurality of pushbutton switches, a seesaw switch, or a rotary switch around the pad of the steering wheel to form a switch unit.For example, when selecting a radio station for an audio device, It is configured to operate the seesaw switch for frequency increase / decrease with the thumb while grasping the handle, adjust the frequency to a desired frequency, and then press the push button switch at another location to confirm or store the selected frequency. .

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2001-246994 A

  However, in the conventional switch unit described above, when a plurality of operations are performed continuously, such as selecting and storing the audio frequency after selecting the audio frequency, the finger from the first operation unit is arranged differently. Since the operation unit needs to be moved and operated, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and a plurality of switches are arranged around the pad, so that the switch unit tends to be large.

  The present invention solves such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch unit that can be easily operated with a simple configuration and can be downsized.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotating body is held on the support portion of the substantially box-shaped case so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the first gear of the rotating body. A rotary operation type electronic component provided with a second gear is arranged opposite to the rotating body, and when the rotating body is lowered, the first gear is separated from the second gear, and the rotating body presses the pushbutton switch to make electrical contact. For example, when performing multiple operations such as selection, confirmation, and storage, it is not necessary to release the finger for each operation, and the finger is released from the rotating body. A plurality of rotations and pressings can be performed as they are, and since the rotating body is separated from the rotating operation type electronic components during the pressing operation, it is difficult to cause erroneous rotation of the rotating operation type electronic components, and it is easy to operate with a simple configuration. It is possible to obtain a switch unit that can be downsized. It has the effect that it is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of protrusions are provided at predetermined intervals on either the side surface of the rotating body or the side surface of the support portion that faces the side surface of the rotating body. Is provided with a guide portion that guides the protrusion when the rotating body is lowered, and can be reliably pressed with the rotating body stopped, and when the pressing force is removed, the rotating body Returns to the same position as before the descent, so that the malfunction of the rotary operation type electronic component can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a switch unit that can be easily operated with a simple configuration and can be downsized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a switch unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch unit, in which 1 is a substantially box-shaped case made of an insulating resin such as polyoxymethylene, 2 A rotary operation type electronic component such as an encoder or a variable resistor that outputs a signal having a predetermined pulse waveform in response to the rotation operation. The rotation operation type electronic component 2 is screwed to a mounting portion 1A provided substantially horizontally in the case 1. It is fixed by 3 etc.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a substantially disc-shaped rotating body made of an insulating resin such as polyoxymethylene, ABS, or polyamide. The operating portion 4A having the largest diameter and the right holding portion 4B have a small diameter in the middle. Each of the shaft portions 4C is formed.

  The shaft portion 4C is inserted and held in a U-shaped cutout portion 1C formed on the wall-shaped support portion 1B in the case 1 so as to be able to rotate and move in the vertical direction. A first gear 4D is formed at the center.

  Further, between the holding portion 4B of the rotating body 4 and the right side surface of the support portion 1B of the case 1, an elastic member 5 made of an elastic metal thin plate with a bifurcated and substantially U-shaped arm extending is slightly bent. The rotating body 4 is urged to the right.

  In the vicinity of the outer periphery of the right side surface of the operating portion 4A of the rotating body 4, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. A guide portion 1D formed of two convex portions arranged at a width interval slightly larger than the width of the protrusion 4E is provided below the left side surface of the support portion 1B opposite to the support portion 1B.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a wiring board such as paper phenol or glass epoxy. A plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the wiring board 6 by a copper foil, and a push button is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the wiring board 6. A switch 7 is mounted, and a plurality of terminals 2B extending from the rotary operation type electronic component 2 are connected to the left side by solder or the like.

  Further, the upper surface of the push button 7A of the push button switch 7 having an upward restoring force abuts on the lower end of the outer periphery of the rotating body 4 to urge the rotating body 4 upward, and the first gear 4D of the rotating body 4 rotates. It meshes with a second gear 2A provided on the right side surface of the operation type electronic component 2 so as to be interlocked.

  Further, 8 is an upper cover made of insulating resin, and 9 is a lower cover made of insulating resin. The upper cover 8 covers the upper opening of the case 1, and the upper end of the outer periphery of the operating portion 4 </ b> A of the rotating body 4 extends from the upper surface of the upper cover 8. A switch unit 10 is configured such that the lower cover 9 that protrudes so as to be rotatable and that holds the wiring board 6 covers the lower portion of the case 1.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5, the switch unit 10 thus configured is mounted on the outer periphery of the pad 12 of the steering wheel 11, and the push button switch 7 and the rotary operation type electronic component 2 are connected to the connector (FIG. It is connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the automobile body through a not-shown).

  In the above configuration, for example, when selecting a radio station of an audio device, the first gear 4D of the rotating body 4 is rotated by rotating the operating portion 4A of the rotating body 4 with the thumb while holding the handle. Then, when the second gear 2A meshed therewith rotates, the rotary operation type electronic component 2 is rotated, and a signal with a predetermined number of pulses is transmitted from the terminal 2B via the wiring pattern of the wiring board 6. It is output to the electronic circuit, and the radio frequency is increased or decreased on the display.

  Then, with the desired frequency displayed, when the rotary body 4 is pressed with the thumb touching the operation unit 4A, the first gear 4D is moved from the second gear 2A as shown in the sectional view of FIG. The rotating body 4 is lowered and the push button 7A is pressed by the lower end of the outer periphery of the rotating body 4 so that the push button switch 7 is electrically connected / disconnected, and this electrical contact / separation signal is output to the electronic circuit for selection. The radio setting is confirmed for the frequency.

  Further, if the rotating body 4 is kept pressed for a predetermined time, the selected frequency is stored in the electronic circuit, and this frequency is automatically selected when the vehicle electronic circuit is activated next time. Yes.

  At this time, when the rotating body 4 shown in FIG. 4B is pressed and lowered from the state before pressing shown in FIG. 4A, it is formed near the outer periphery of the rotating body 4. Since the protrusion 4E is inserted into the gap of the guide portion 1D of the support portion 1B and is lowered while being guided so as not to rotate, the rotating body 4 selects a desired frequency at the time of pressing, that is, by a rotating operation. The pressing operation is performed in the rotated position.

  Further, when the finger is released from the state in which the rotating body 4 is pressed, the rotating body 4 moves upward by the return force of the push button 7A and returns to the state shown in FIG. The rotating body 4 rises while being held at 1D.

  Accordingly, the rotating body 4 returns to the same rotational position as before pressing, and the first gear 4D and the second gear 2A are also meshed at the same rotational position as before pressing, so that the rotary operation type electronic component 2 does not rotate erroneously. The rotation position where the desired frequency is selected remains.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rotary body 4 is rotated to rotate the rotary operation type electronic component 2 and the rotary body 4 is pressed and the push button switch 7 is pressed to select and confirm. -When performing a plurality of operations such as memory, it is not necessary to release the finger each time the operation is performed, and a plurality of operations of rotation and pressing can be performed with the finger touching the rotating body 4, and the rotating body 4 is lowered. As a result, the first gear 4D is separated from the second gear 2A of the rotary operation type electronic component 2, so that erroneous rotation of the rotary operation type electronic component 2 is less likely to occur, and it is easy to operate with a simple configuration and downsizing. A switch unit that can also be obtained.

  A plurality of protrusions 4E are provided at predetermined intervals on the right side surface of the rotating body 4, and a guide portion 1D for guiding the protrusions 4E when the rotating body 4 is lowered is provided on the left side surface of the support portion 1B facing the protrusions 4E. Thus, the rotating body 4 can be reliably pressed in a stopped state, and when the pressing force is removed, the rotating body 4 returns to the same position as before the lowering. Malfunctions can also be reduced.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the plurality of protrusions 4E are provided on the right side surface of the rotating body 4 and the guide portion 1D is provided on the left side surface of the support portion 1B has been described. The present invention can be implemented even if the rotating body 4 is provided with a guide portion.

  The switch unit according to the present invention can be easily operated with a simple configuration and can be downsized, and is useful mainly for a steering switch used for operating various electronic devices in an automobile.

Sectional drawing by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Cross section during the same operation Partial sectional view of the same Top view of the steering wheel

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 1A Mounting part 1B Support part 1C Notch part 1D Guide part 2 Rotation operation type electronic component 2A 2nd gear 2B Terminal 3 Screw 4 Rotating body 4A Operation part 4B Holding part 4C Shaft part 4D 1st gear 4E Projection 5 Elastic member 6 Wiring board 7 Push button switch 7A Push button 8 Upper cover 9 Lower cover 10 Switch unit 11 Steering wheel 12 Pad

Claims (2)

A substantially box-shaped case, a rotating body that is rotatably supported by the support portion of the case, and a rotating body that is disposed to face the rotating body, and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first gear of the rotating body. A rotary operation type electronic component provided with a second gear, and a push button switch disposed below the rotating body. The first gear is separated from the second gear by the lowering of the rotating body, and A switch unit in which a push button switch is pressed against an outer periphery of the rotating body to perform electrical contact / separation. A plurality of protrusions are provided at predetermined intervals on either the side surface of the rotating body or the side surface of the support portion facing the rotating body side surface, and a guide portion is provided on the other side for guiding the protrusions when the rotating body is lowered. The switch unit according to claim 1.

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