JP2005285443A - Switching device, transmission pin, and transmission pin assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching device capable of avoiding the increase of the number of parts and the complication of a manufacturing process, capable of obtaining a sufficient sound-arresting effect even for a transmission pin type switching device, and to provide a transmission pin and a transmission pin assembly. <P>SOLUTION: At least a part of the transmission pin contacting an operation button, or that contacting a switching element is formed by using an elastic material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device in which a switch operation is performed via a transmission pin, a transmission pin used in such a switch device, and a transmission pin assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, switch devices for operation are frequently used in electronic devices and the like. In such a switch device, various types are used depending on the application.
For example, when a switch operation is performed from the outside, an operation button operated by a finger or the like is installed on the outer surface of the device, and a switch element that actually has a switch function is installed inside the device. A form of connecting and transmitting the operation is used.

  In some cases, a plurality of sets of switch elements are arranged for one of the operation buttons, and when one set is turned on, the other set remains off. As such a switch device, there are a seesaw type device having two switch elements on both sides and a switch device having switch elements in four directions such as a so-called cursor operation key.

In recent years, a thin key switch used as a so-called input keyboard has been required to be quieter because of frequent operations such as character input. For this reason, a silencer elastic sheet is interposed in the operation transmission path (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Silentness may also be required for switch devices other than those for keyboards, and it can be said that it is possible to respond by adding a similar silencing sheet.

JP 2002-197947 A (pages 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 2) JP 2000-269245 A (page 7, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5)

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, noise generation is avoided by adding an elastic sheet for silencing each, and there is a problem that an increase in the number of parts and a complicated manufacturing process cannot be avoided.
In particular, when a similar silencing sheet is added to the switch device using the transmission pin described above, the structure of the transmission path of the operation switch, the transmission pin, the silencing sheet, and the switch element becomes complicated, increasing the number of parts and the manufacturing process. In addition to complications, there is a possibility that a sufficient silencing effect cannot be obtained.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device, a transmission pin, and a transmission pin assembly that can obtain a sufficient silencing effect even in a transmission pin type switch device and can avoid an increase in the number of parts and a complicated manufacturing process. .

The switch device according to the present invention includes a switch element, an operation button for pressing the switch element, and an operation applied to the operation button from the outside while being in contact with each of the operation button and the switch element. A switch device including a transmission pin for transmitting to an element, wherein the transmission pin is formed of an elastic material at least at a contact portion with the operation button or / and a contact portion with the switch element. To do.
The transmission pin of the present invention is a transmission pin that contacts the switch element and each of the operation buttons for pressing the switch element and transmits an operation applied to the operation button from the outside to the switch element, At least a contact portion with the operation button and / or a contact portion with the switch element is formed of an elastic material.
The transmission pin assembly of the present invention includes a plurality of transmission pins that contact each of the switch element and an operation button for pressing the switch element and transmit an operation applied to the operation button from the outside to the switch element. A transmission pin assembly, wherein at least a contact portion with the operation button and / or a contact portion with the switch element is formed of an elastic material, and a plurality of the transmission pins are arranged in parallel and a series. The runners are connected to each other.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1-3, the switch apparatus of this embodiment is shown.
As shown in each figure, the switch device of the present embodiment is used as an operation part of a car audio device housed in a cover 20, and includes an operation button 10, a frame 30, a circuit board 40, a back plate 50, Transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 are provided.

  Note that the operation button 10, the cover 20, the frame 30, the back plate 50, and the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 are basically formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin material, including each part formed on each. . As the synthetic resin material, general polyethylene, polyurethane, and the like can be used, and so-called engineering plastics in consideration of high strength, high durability, and the like can be used.

The operation button 10 is a so-called seesaw type switch having a switch function at opposite ends, and three operation buttons 10A to 10C are arranged in parallel.
The operation buttons 10A to 10C have a front surface portion 11 (11A to 11C) exposed from the cover 20 and a cylindrical support portion 12 (12A to 12C) formed on the back surface thereof.

The operation button 10 can be externally operated individually with the surface portion 11 exposed from the opening of the cover 20.
The surface portion 11 is formed in a substantially parallelogram shape in which the contour shape of the surface exposed from the cover 20 is long in a predetermined direction, and has a curved surface shape such that the surface shape is continuous with the surface of the surrounding cover 20.
On the surface of the surface portion 11, markers 19 are formed at end portions in the longitudinal direction facing each other. That is, “1” and “4” are displayed on the operation button 10A, “2” and “5” are displayed on the operation button 10B, and “3” and “6” are displayed on the operation button 10C. A switch operation corresponding to each marker 19 is performed.

Each of the operation buttons 10 is rotatably supported by the frame 30 using the support portion 12 so that each can perform a seesaw type operation.
The operation buttons 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> C have a pair of support holes 13 (13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> C) on both sides of the support portion 12 (the side surface corresponding to the short axis direction of the surface portion 11, that is, the long side).

  The frame 30 is attached to the back side of the cover 20 via an existing mounting structure (not shown), and has a cylindrical support portion 32 (32A to 32C) corresponding to each operation button 10 (10A to 10C). It has.

Each of the support portions 32 is formed to be slightly smaller in diameter than the support portion 12 of the operation button 10 and can be inserted into the support portion 12, and a pair of support pins 33 on both sides is formed on the side surface of the support portion 32.
The support pin 33 is disposed at a position corresponding to the support hole 13 of the support portion 12 and is formed in a size that can be inserted into the support hole 13. By engaging these support pins 33 with the corresponding support holes 13, the operation buttons 10 are rotatably supported with respect to the frame 30.

A circuit board 40 is mounted on the back side of the frame 30.
The circuit board 40 has an existing printed circuit board 41, and various circuit elements (not shown) including switch elements 44 and 45 are installed on the surface thereof. Each element is wired with a printed pattern formed on the surface of the printed circuit board 41 (there may be the front surface, back surface, and even the substrate layer).
The switch elements 44 and 45 are existing small switches, and are brought into a conductive state when pressed on the upper surface side in the figure, and are cut off when the pressure is released.

  The switch elements 44 and 45 are arranged to be operated by a seesaw type switch operation of the operation buttons 10A to 10C. That is, the switch element 44 (44A to 44C) is disposed immediately below one end of the operation buttons 10A to 10C (the markers 19 are “1”, “3”, and “5”), and the switch element 45 (45A to 45C) is The other end of the operation buttons 10A to 10C (the markers 19 are “2”, “4”, “6”).

In order to realize the operation of the switch elements 44 and 45 by the operation button 10 as described above, the following transmission mechanism including the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 is installed.
In the operation button 10, contact portions 14 (14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> C) and 15 (15 </ b> A to 15 </ b> C) are formed on the back side of each end portion of the front surface portion 11.
In the frame 30, cylindrical holding portions 34 (34A to 34C) and 35 (35A to 35C) are formed along an axis connecting the contact portions 14 and 15 and the switch elements 44 and 45.
The transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 are held by the holding portions 34 and 35 so as to be movable in a predetermined axial direction, and transmit the pressing force from the contact portions 14 and 15 to the switch elements 44 and 45.

A transmission pin assembly 60 is shown in FIG.
The transmission pin assembly 60 includes three transmission pins 61 (61A to 61C) corresponding to the operation buttons 10 and the switch elements 44, respectively.
The transmission pins 61 </ b> A to 61 </ b> C are solid rod-like members, and have disk-like contact portions 62 </ b> A to 62 </ b> C at the upper end in the drawing. The length of each transmission pin 61A-61C is adjusted according to the distance between corresponding operation button 10A-10C and switch element 44A-44C.

Among them, the transmission pin 61A is inserted and held in the holding portion 34A of the frame 30, the lower end surface 63A in the figure is in contact with the switch element 44A, and the upper contact portion 62A in the figure is the operation button. It is in contact with the contact portion 14A of 10A.
Accordingly, when the marker 19 of the operation button 10A pushes the “1” side, the contact portion 62A is pressed by the contact portion 14A, the transmission pin 61A moves in the axial direction, and the switch element 44A is moved by the end face 63A. The switch element 44A can be operated by pressing.

  Similarly, the transmission pins 61B and 61C are inserted into the holding portions 34B and 34C of the frame 30, and the lower end faces 63B and 63C in the drawing are in contact with the switch elements 44B and 44C, and the upper contact in the drawing is provided. The parts 62B and 62C are in contact with the contact parts 14B and 14C of the operation buttons 10B and 10C. Similarly, by pressing the “3” and “5” sides of the operation buttons 10B and 10C, the switch elements 44B and 44C The operation can be performed.

The transmission pin assembly 60 includes a runner 68 that connects the three transmission pins 61A to 61C, and connection arms 69A to 69C extending from the runner 68 are connected to contact portions 62A to 62C of the transmission pins 61A to 61C, respectively. Has been.
A substantially S-shaped bent portion is formed in the middle of the connecting arms 69A to 69C, and the transmission pins 61A to 61C can move independently in the axial direction regardless of the runners 68 connected to each other.

In the transmission pin assembly 60, the three transmission pins 61A to 61C and the runner 68 are integrally formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin material or the like.
In the transmission pins 61A to 61C, portions extending from the lower end portions 63A to 63C in the drawing to a predetermined length in the axial direction (upward in the drawing) are made of an elastomer material as an elastic material, and are brought into contact with the switch elements 44A to 44C. A predetermined cushioning property can be obtained.
This elastomer material portion is formed by so-called two-color molding of a predetermined elastomer together with other portions of the synthetic resin material at the time of the above-described injection molding.
As the elastomer, silicon resin, synthetic rubber or the like can be used, and other synthetic resin materials or rubber-based materials can be used as long as a predetermined cushioning property is obtained.

A transmission pin assembly 70 is shown in FIG.
The transmission pin assembly 70 includes transmission pins 71 (71A to 71C) corresponding to the operation buttons 10 and the switch elements 45.
The transmission pins 71A to 71C abut against the abutting portions 15A to 15C at the abutting portions 72A to 72C, abut against the switch elements 45A to 45C at the end surfaces 73A to 73C, and the operation buttons 10 (markers 19 are “2” and “4”). The switches 45 </ b> A to 45 </ b> C can be operated by the operation of “6” side).

In the transmission pin assembly 70, three transmission pins 71A to 71C are connected by a runner 78 and connection arms 79A to 79C, but the transmission pins 71A to 71C are individually movable.
In the transmission pins 71A to 71C, portions extending from the lower ends 73A to 73C in the drawing to a predetermined length in the axial direction (upward in the drawing) are made of an elastomer material, and have a predetermined cushioning property upon contact with the switch elements 45A to 45C. Can be obtained.

A back plate 50 is used to hold the circuit board 40, the frame 30, the operation buttons 10, and the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 in the cover 20.
The back plate 50 has a protrusion 51 that supports the circuit board 40 from the back side, and is fixed to the cover 20 with a fixing structure (not shown). Thereby, each part of the circuit board 40, the frame 30, and the operation button 10 is sequentially held by the cover 20, and is held in the cover 20 in a predetermined state.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
By pressing an opposite end of the operation button 10, the corresponding switch elements 44 and 45 are pressed via the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70, and a desired switch operation can be performed.
At this time, since the operation button 10 has a seesaw type having different switch functions at one and the other of the opposite ends, a plurality of switch elements 44 and 45 can be operated by one operation button 10. The number of operation buttons 10 can be reduced.

Further, since the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 are used, the operation can be transmitted without any problem even if the operation button 10 and the switch elements 44 and 45 are separated from each other, and the switch element 44A corresponding to the operation buttons 10A to 10C adjacent to each other. Even when the distances to 44C and 45A to 45C are different, it can be dealt with by adjusting the lengths of the transmission pins 61 and 71.
For this reason, the operation button 10 can sufficiently secure the degree of freedom of the arrangement and the surface shape, and can improve the design of a device applied as a switch device.

In the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70, the portions extending from the end portions 73A to 73C to a predetermined length in the axial direction are made of an elastomer material so that a predetermined cushioning property can be obtained upon contact with the switch elements 45A to 45C. Occurrence of operation noise during operation can be suppressed and silence can be improved.
In particular, a slight preload can be applied in advance to the transmission mechanism from the operation button 10 to the switch elements 44 and 45 by the intervention of the elastomer material portion. And this preload can reduce the noise etc. by what is called dance of each part in a transmission mechanism.
In the seesaw-type operation button, when one group is pressed, a gap is generated between the switch element and the transmission pin or between the operation button and the transmission pin in the other group. Thereafter, a collision sound is generated when returning to the original state, so that the collision sound can be reduced.

In the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70, since the three transmission pins 61A to 61C and 71 to 71C are connected by the runners 68 and 78, they can be handled collectively, and the transmission pins 61 and 71 are separated. Compared to the above, the handling can be facilitated.
Further, since the three transmission pins 61A to 61C and 71 to 71C are connected by the runners 68 and 78, it is possible to avoid that the transmission pins 61 and 71 are individually vibrated due to external vibration or the like, thereby further improving quietness. be able to.

  In the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70, since the S-shaped bent portions are used for the connection arms 69 and 79, even when the transmission pins 61 and 71 are connected to each other, their operations are not restricted, and are the same as in the case of a single case. Operation can be ensured.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the elastomer material is partially used for the end portions of the transmission pins 61 and 71. However, the entire transmission pins 61 and 71 may be used as the elastomer material, and the entire transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 may be used. It may be an elastomer material.
In addition, when the elastomer material is partially used for the end portions of the transmission pins 61 and 71, in addition to the two-color molding as in the above-described embodiment, another member of the elastomer material is created and the ends of the transmission pins 61 and 71 are formed. You may connect with a part by adhesion | attachment, welding, melt | fusion, and other arbitrary methods.

  In the above embodiment, the S-shaped bent portion is used in the middle of the connection arms 69 and 79 in order to ensure the individual operation of the transmission pins 61 and 71 in the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70. Other shapes such as a linear shape of the scale may be used. In short, it is sufficient that a predetermined stroke of the transmission pins 61 and 71 can be secured.

The transmission pins 61 and 71 are not limited to a rod shape extending linearly in a predetermined axial direction, but a shape with a crank in part, an Ω-shape offset in the middle to avoid other configurations, and the operation side and the working side are the same Any shape such as a U-shape on the side can be used.
Further, the transmission pins 61 and 71 are not limited to a rod shape such as a round bar or a square bar, but may be a plate shape, a cross-section L-shaped shape or a U-shaped cross-section.
As described above, the transmission pins 61 and 71 may have any shape as long as the operation to the operation button 10 can be transmitted to the switch elements 44 and 45. However, as in the above-described embodiment, the transmission pins 61 and 71 reach the switch elements 44 and 45 from the operation button 10. The simplest and most reliable operation can be achieved by using a linear shape.

In the embodiment, the transmission pins 61 and 71 are used in the form of the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70 in which a plurality of transmission pins 61 and 71 are connected by the runners 68 and 78. However, the transmission pins 61 and 71 may be used in separate states. Good.
However, in such a case, it is necessary to mount the number of transmission pins (six in the above embodiment) when assembling into the switch device, compared to twice in the case of the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70. It becomes complicated. For this reason, it is desirable to use in the form of the transmission pin assemblies 60 and 70.

In the above embodiment, the switch device has three operation buttons 10A to 10C arranged, but the number, size, or arrangement of the operation buttons can be changed as appropriate.
The operation button 10 is a seesaw type switch that has a switch function at the opposite end, but it is also possible to provide a total of four switch functions in four directions instead of such a pair.
On the other hand, in the present invention, it is not essential to use a seesaw type switch, and even when one switch element is operated by one operation button, operation noise can be reduced by using the transmission pin of the present invention. In addition, when a plurality of switches for operating one switch element with one operation button are arranged, a transmission pin assembly having a plurality of transmission pins can be used.

[Effects of Embodiment]
As described above, the present embodiment provides a switching device, a transmission pin, and a transmission pin assembly that can provide a sufficient silencing effect even in a transmission pin type switching device and can avoid an increase in the number of parts and a complicated manufacturing process. be able to.

The top view which shows the external appearance of the switch apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cross-sectional shape of the switch apparatus of the said embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cross-sectional shape of a different direction of the switch apparatus of the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows the transmission pin assembly of the said embodiment, FIG. 4 (A) is a top view, FIG.4 (B) is a side view. It is a figure which shows the other transmission pin assembly of the said embodiment, FIG. 5 (A) is a top view, FIG.5 (B) is a side view.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A, 10B, 10C ... operation button 11 ... surface portion 12 ... support portion 13 ... support hole 14, 14A, 14B, 14C ... contact portion 15, 15A, 15B, 15C ... contact portion 19 ... marker 20 ... cover DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Frame 32 ... Supporting part 33 ... Supporting pins 34, 34A, 34B, 34C ... Holding part 40 ... Circuit board 41 ... Printed circuit board 44, 44A, 44B, 44C ... Switch element 45, 45A, 45B, 45C ... Switch element 50 ... back plate 51 ... projections 60, 70 ... transmission pin assemblies 61, 61A, 61B, 61C ... transmission pins 62, 62A, 62B, 62C ... contact parts 63, 63A, 63B, 63C ... end faces 71, 71A, 71B, 71C ... Transmission pins 72, 72A, 72B, 72C ... Abutting portions 73, 73A, 73B, 73C ... End faces 68, 78 Runners 69, 7 9 Connecting arm

Claims (12)

A switch element; an operation button for pressing the switch element; and a transmission pin that contacts each of the operation button and the switch element and transmits an operation applied to the operation button from the outside to the switch element. A switch device comprising:
The switch device, wherein at least a contact portion with the operation button and / or a contact portion with the switch element is formed of an elastic material.   2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission pin has a rod shape extending in a pressing operation direction and can transmit an operation in the pressing operation direction.   The switch device according to claim 2, wherein the contact portion of the transmission pin is formed of an elastic material by a predetermined thickness in the pressing direction.   4. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the transmission pins are arranged in parallel and are connected to each other by a series of runners.   5. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein the runner includes an elastically deformable connection arm connected to each of the plurality of transmission pins. 6.   6. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the transmission pin and the switch element are arranged for one of the operation buttons.   7. The switch device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of sets of transmission pins and switch elements are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the operation buttons, and when one set is turned on, the other set is turned off. A switch device characterized by being in a state. A transmission pin that contacts each of the switch element and an operation button for pressing the switch element and transmits an operation applied to the operation button from the outside to the switch element,
At least a contact portion with the operation button and / or a contact portion with the switch element is formed of an elastic material.   9. The transmission pin according to claim 8, wherein the transmission pin has a rod shape extending in a predetermined pressing operation direction and can transmit the operation in the axial direction.   The transmission pin according to claim 9, wherein the contact portion is formed of an elastic material by a predetermined thickness in the axial direction. A transmission pin assembly comprising a plurality of transmission pins that contact a switch element and each of the operation buttons for pressing the switch element and transmit an operation applied to the operation button from the outside to the switch element,
The transmission pin has at least a contact portion with the operation button or / and a contact portion with the switch element formed of an elastic material,
A plurality of the transmission pins arranged in parallel and connected to each other by a series of runners. 12. The transmission pin assembly according to claim 11, wherein the runner has an elastically deformable connection arm connected to each of the plurality of transmission pins.

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