JP2005294052A - Composite operation type switching arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a structure enabling various operations with one operating member, by increasing the number of changeovers of switches which can be changed over by one operating member to three of more. <P>SOLUTION: This composite operation type switching arrangement is equipped with the operating member 15 provided on a base 11 with its horizontal rotation and pushing operation made possible with respect to the insulating base 11, a torsion coil spring which is always giving energizing force for the operating member 15 to automatically restore to a reference position for the pushing direction of the operating member 15 and a neutral position for horizontal rotation to the operating member 15, first and second switch parts SW1, SW2 to perform switching action by horizontal rotation of the operating member, third and fourth switches SW3, SW4 gradually performing switching action by pushing the operating member 15 in the pushing direction, and a touch giving means 57 to give click touch to the gradual switching action of the third and fourth switch parts SW3, SW4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite operation type switch device, and more particularly to a composite operation type switch device capable of switching at least four different switch sections with one operation member.

  In general, a multi-stage operation type switch device used as an input component in an electronic device such as a video camera, a digital camera, an audio CD player, a mobile phone, etc., smoothly performs a plurality of switches in order to perform a predetermined process. Is required to operate.

Therefore, when one operating member is rotated in the left direction, the first switch unit is operated, and when the one operating member is rotated in the right direction, the second switch unit is operated. A switch device capable of operating two switch parts (see, for example, Patent Document 1) or the first switch part is operated when one operating member is rotated in the right direction, and the second switch is operated in the left direction. Also known is a switch device that enables operation of three different switch parts with one operation member, such as when the switch part is operated and the third switch part is operated when the push-in operation is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). It has been.
JP-A-9-63420 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-143577

  As described above, the switch device of Patent Document 1 can switch contacts of two different switch parts by operating one operation member, and the switch device of Patent Document 2 can switch three different contacts using one operation member. It has become. However, in order to use it as an input component in a multi-functional information device in recent years, there are few two or three switching numbers. In addition, when the multistage operation type switch device with a small number of contact switching is used as an input component, it is impossible to perform various operations, and it is necessary to use a plurality of switch devices to perform various operations. Will arise. However, for example, when a plurality of switch devices are used in a digital camera or a portable information device, there is a problem that the device becomes large.

  Therefore, since the number of switches that can be switched by the operation of one operation member is more than 3 and a structure that enables various operations with one operation member, a technical problem to be solved arises. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

  The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an insulating base, a left-right rotation and a linear pushing operation on the base on the base. And an urging force for automatically restoring the operating member to a reference position with respect to the pushing direction of the operating member and a neutral position with respect to the left and right rotational directions. A biasing member that is always applied to the operation member, first and second switch portions that perform a switch operation by rotating the operation member in the left-right direction, and pushing the operation member in the pushing direction; A composite comprising: a third and / or fourth switch unit that performs a switch operation in an automatic manner; and a feeling imparting unit that imparts a click feeling to the stepwise switching operation of the third and fourth switch units. Operation type switch To provide a location.

According to this configuration, when the operation member is rotated in the left or right direction, the first or second switch unit is operated, and when the operation member is pushed in, the third switch unit is operated first, and then the fourth switch unit is operated. The switch section of the switch is switched step by step. That is, the conventional composite operation type switch device has three contact switching numbers that can be operated by one operating member, whereas the composite operation type switch device of the present invention has four switching numbers. it can. When the operation of the operation member is completed, the operation member automatically returns to the neutral position and the reference position by the urging force of the urging member. Further, in the linear switching operation of the third and fourth switch sections, a click feeling can be obtained at the time of switching.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the feel imparting means is provided between a cover covering the base and the operation member facing the cover, and at least one of the cover and the operation member includes the Provided is a composite operation type switch device provided with an undulating portion that gives the click feeling to the other when the operation member is pushed.

  According to this configuration, when the operating member is pushed in, when the switching operation is performed from the third switch unit to the fourth switch unit, for example, by the feeling imparting means provided between the cover and the operating member, Click feeling is transmitted to the finger.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the undulating portion is provided with a spring property on the cover side, and a spherical body that moves integrally with the operating member and gets over the undulating portion is rotatably provided on the operating member side. A multi-operation type switch device is provided.

  According to this configuration, when the sphere moves over the undulation due to the movement of the operation member, the sphere having a smooth surface smoothly moves over the undulation while rotating or sliding.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite operation type switch device in which a tongue-like spring piece having the undulating portion is formed integrally with the cover.

  According to this structure, the cover formed by integrating the spring pieces having the undulating portions is obtained.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the operation member is slidable together with the operation member with the operation member in the pushing direction between the operation member and the base, and the operation member is left and right. A slide member rotatably connected in the direction is provided, the first and second switch portions are provided between the slide member and the operation member, and the third and the third switches are provided between the slide member and the base. A composite operation type switch device provided with a fourth switch section is provided.

  According to this configuration, the operation member, the slide member, the base, the first, second, third, and fourth switch units, and the cover and the like can be configured with very few members.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the urging member is formed by integrating a winding portion wound around and a latching end portion extending outwardly from both winding ends of the winding portion in opposite directions. A combined operation type switch device formed by a torsion coil spring provided on the base member, wherein the winding portion is disposed so as to surround the rotation center of the operation member, and the latching end portions at both ends are respectively attached to the base side. I will provide a.

  According to this configuration, the automatic restoration to the reference position with respect to the pushing operation of the operation member and the automatic restoration to the neutral position with respect to the left and right rotation directions are performed by one torsion coil spring.

  The composite operation type switch device according to claim 1 of the present invention can switch four switches with one operation member. Accordingly, various operations can be performed with one operation member, and the number of switch devices to be used can be reduced, thereby contributing to downsizing and cost reduction of equipment. When the operating member is pushed in, the click feeling is transmitted to the operator's finger or the like, so that the operator can reliably perform the switching operation between the third and fourth switch sections until the click feeling is obtained on the finger or the like. This can be performed and contributes to the improvement of the reliability in the switching operation.

  In the composite operation type switch device according to claim 2 of the present invention, the feeling imparting means is provided between the cover and the operation member so that the click feeling is easily transmitted to the operator's finger or the like. In addition to the effect of the present invention, the operator can surely obtain a click feeling on the finger or the like, and can further contribute to the improvement of the reliability in the switching operation.

  In the composite operation type switch device according to claim 3 of the present invention, when the sphere gets over the undulation by the movement of the operation member, the sphere with a smooth surface gets over the undulation smoothly while sliding or rotating. In addition to the effect of the invention according to Item 1 or 2, a smooth click feeling with little discomfort can be obtained.

  In the composite operation type switch device according to claim 4 of the present invention, since the spring piece having the undulating portion is integrated with the cover, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 2 or 3, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are reduced. This can contribute to cost reduction.

  The composite operation type switch device according to claim 5 of the present invention is constituted by an operation member, a slide member, a base, first, second, third and fourth switches, and an extremely small number of members such as the cover. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first, second or third aspect of the invention, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced to further contribute to cost reduction.

  Since the composite operation type switch device according to claim 6 of the present invention uses a torsion coil spring as the biasing means, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the biasing means Can be obtained at a low cost, and since a single part is sufficient, assembly is easy, which can further contribute to cost reduction.

  In order to achieve the object of obtaining a structure in which the number of switches that can be switched by the operation of one operation member is more than three and various operations can be performed by one operation member, First and second switch portions that perform a switch operation by rotating the member in the left-right direction; third and fourth switch portions that perform a switch operation stepwise by pushing the operation member in the push-in direction; The composite operation type switch device has a structure in which a feeling imparting means for imparting a click feeling to the stepwise switching operation of the third and / or fourth switch section is provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a composite operation type switching device according to the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of the composite operation type switch device, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the composite operation type switch device, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the composite operation type switch device.

  1 to 3, the composite operation type switch device 10 includes a base 11, a cover 12, a slide member 13, a torsion coil spring 14, an operation member 15, a steel ball 55, and the like. Further, by only operating one operation member 15, the four switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 described in the following (1) to (3) can be switched.

  (1) A first switch provided between the operation member 15 and the slide member 13 when the operation member 15 is rotated from the neutral position (position shown in FIG. 1) to the left by a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees). SW1 is switched from OFF to ON, and an ON signal of the first switch SW1 is obtained through the external terminal 18a and the common external terminal 18b.

  (2) When the operation member 15 is rotated to the right from the neutral position, the second switch SW2 provided between the operation member 15 and the slide member 13 is switched from OFF to ON, and the second switch SW2 is turned ON. An ON signal of the switch SW2 is obtained through the external terminal 18e and the common external terminal 18b.

  (3) When the operation member 15 is pushed inward from the reference position (position shown in FIG. 2), the operation member 15 and the slide member 13 are both slid and moved between the slide member 13 and the base 11. Is switched from OFF to ON, and the ON signal of the third switch SW3 is obtained through the external terminal 18c and the common external terminal 18b. Further, when the operation member 15 is further pushed inward, the fourth switch SW4 provided between the slide member 13 and the base 11 is switched from OFF to ON, and the fourth switch SW4 is turned ON. A signal is obtained through the external terminal 18d and the common external terminal 18b. That is, in addition to turning on the third switch SW3, the fourth switch SW4 is also turned on. When the operating member 15 is returned to the reference position, in the returning process, the fourth switch SW4 and the third switch SW3 are again switched from on to off in this order.

Hereinafter, the detailed structure will be described in detail.
The base 11 is formed of, for example, a resin material, and integrally includes a bottom wall 11a and a side wall 11b projecting from the bottom wall 11a upward at a substantially right angle. It has a structure in which an open storage portion 16 is provided. The side wall 11b is provided in a state in which the side surface is continuously surrounded. Therefore, the storage unit 16 has a structure in which the bottom surface and the side surface except the top surface are completely surrounded and closed by the bottom wall 11a and the side wall 11b, so that flux or the like can be prevented from entering the storage unit 16 from the lower surface side. It has become.

  In addition, on the outer surface of the side wall 11b of the base 11, a total of four locking claws 17 projecting from the side wall 11b to the outside at a substantially right angle, two on the left and right, are provided. On the upper surface side of each of the locking claws 17, 17..., An inclined surface 17 a is formed that descends in a direction approaching the bottom wall 11 a as it goes upward.

  Furthermore, on the inner surface of the bottom wall 11a of the base 11 and at the position that becomes the pushing end (D direction end) in the sliding direction of the slide member 13 (arrow DU direction shown in FIG. 2), the slide member 13 is located. An electrode pattern 18 having the external terminals 18a, 18c, 18d, and 18e and the common external terminal 18b is provided in a state of being elongated in the sliding direction. FIG. 4 shows an arrangement structure of the external terminals 18a, 18c, 18d, and 18e forming the electrode pattern 18 and the common external terminal 18b. These terminals 18 a to 18 e are arranged in a plane on a portion that becomes the bottom wall 11 a of the base 11 when the base 11 is molded, and a part of the terminals 18 a to 18 e is inserted into the base 11 and integrated.

  The cover 12 is press-molded with a metal material, and includes a main body 12 a having a size capable of covering the upper surface of the base 11. Further, elastically deformable elastic locking pieces 12b, 12b, each having an engagement hole 22, are provided at positions corresponding to the respective locking claws 17, 17 ... of the base 11 from the main body portion 12a downward. It is formed in a state bent at a substantially right angle.

  Furthermore, a substantially U-shaped slit 52 is provided in a substantially central portion of the base 11 in the cover 12, and a spring piece 12 c formed in a tongue shape is integrally formed along the sliding direction of the operation member 15. Has been. The spring piece 12c is formed so as to be inclined in a state in which the distal end portion is directed toward the reference position side of the operation member 15 and gradually approaches the bottom wall 11a of the base 11 as it approaches the distal end side. In addition, an undulating portion 12d that protrudes toward the bottom wall 11a is crossed at a right angle with the left-right direction of the spring piece 12c, that is, the direction in which the operating member 15 slides. It is integrally formed in the state extended in the direction. The cross-sectional shape of the undulating portion 12d is formed in a substantially semicircular shape.

  The slide member 13 is formed of a resin material, and integrally includes a rectangular main body portion 13a and a semicircular portion 13b continuous from the main body portion 13a. The main body portion 13a and the semicircular portion 13b are provided with windows 53 and 54 penetrating vertically, respectively, and the connection portion is formed between the main body portion 13a and the semicircular portion 13b by forming the windows 53 and 54. 13c is made. Further, a round hole 36 is provided in a vertically central position at the connecting portion 13c. The slide member 13 is disposed in the storage portion 16 with the left and right side walls of the main body portion 13a being in contact with the inner surface of the base 11, and is guided by the side wall 11b of the base 11, In the storage part 16, it can slide in the same direction (arrow UD direction in FIG. 2) as the sliding direction of the operation member 15. FIG.

  The slide member 13 is provided with metal thin plate spring materials 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d. FIG. 5 shows the shape and arrangement structure of the thin metal leaf spring materials 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d. These thin metal plate spring materials 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and 31 d are arranged in a planar shape when the slide member 13 is formed, and a part thereof is inserted into the connecting portion 13 c of the slide member 13 and integrated.

  The metal thin plate spring material 31a has a first slider piece 32a that extends straight from the connecting portion 13c toward the pushing direction of the operating member 15 into the window 53, and a round hole 36 from the connecting portion 13c. A second slider 34a extending into the window 54 in a bent state along a circle drawn as a center is integrally formed.

  The metal thin plate spring material 31b is connected to the first slider piece 32b and the first slider piece 32c that are straightly extended from the connecting portion 13c into the window 53 in the pushing direction of the operating member 15. The second slider 34b extended into the window 54 along with the second slider 34a in a state bent from the portion 13c along a circle drawn around the round hole 36 is integrated. Is formed.

  The metal thin plate spring material 31c includes a first slider piece 32d extending straight from the connecting portion 13c toward the pushing direction of the operating member 15 into the window 53, and a round hole 36 from the connecting portion 13c. The second sliding slider 34c is integrally formed by being bent along a drawn circle.

  The metal thin plate spring material 31d has a first slider piece 32e that extends straight from the connecting portion 13c toward the pushing direction of the operating member 15 into the window 53, and a round hole 36 from the connecting portion 13c. A second slide extending in the window 54 along with the second slider 34c in a state of being bent along the drawn circle and facing the second slider 34a. The child 34d is integrally formed.

The operation member 15 is formed of a resin material, and a base portion 15 a disposed in the storage portion 16.
And an operation portion 15b that protrudes outward from the base 11. The base portion 15 a has a columnar shape, and a lower shaft portion 15 c that is rotatably engaged in a round hole 36 of the slide member 13 is provided at the center portion of the lower surface that is disposed to face the slide member 13. ing. An electrode pattern piece 41 that is in contact with the second sliders 34a to 34d on the slide member 13 is provided on the lower surface of the base portion 15a. FIG. 6 shows the electrode pattern piece 41. The electrode pattern piece 41 is a thin metal plate and has a notch 56 in part. For example, when the operation member 15 is formed, a part of the electrode pattern piece 41 is inserted and integrated with the operation member 15.

  On the other hand, on the upper surface of the base portion 15a, a peripheral wall portion 15d is integrally provided at the outer edge of the base portion 15a, and an upper shaft portion 15e is provided so as to protrude upward at the center. The peripheral wall portion 15d is provided with notches 15f and 15f at symmetrical positions, and a hemispherical concave portion 15g is formed at the center of the upper surface of the upper shaft portion 15e. In the recess 15g, a steel ball 55 as a spherical body having a spherical surface substantially the same as the inner surface of the recess 15g is rotatably arranged with the upper half protruding from the recess 15g.

  The torsion coil spring 14 is made of an elongated metal bar having spring properties, and is wound a plurality of times (in this example, two times) around the winding portion 14a and both winding ends of the winding portion 14a. The latching end portions 14b and 14b each extend toward the outside in the opposite directions are integrally provided. FIG. 7 shows the torsion coil spring 14 alone. The torsion coil spring 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the base portion 15a so that the winding portion 14a surrounds the outside of the upper shaft portion 15e, and the latching end portions 14b and 14b at both ends are cut by the peripheral wall portion 15d. It extends outside the notches 15f and 15f, and their tips are fixedly attached to the inner surface of the base 11, respectively.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an assembly procedure of the composite operation type switch device. Next, the assembly procedures (1) to (5) will be described with reference to FIG.

  (1) First, the base 11 provided with the electrode pattern 18 having the external terminals 18a to 18e is prepared [see FIG. 8A].

  (2) Subsequently, the slide member 13 is disposed in the storage portion 16 of the base 11. Here, the half-moon portion 13b is on the rear side (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 2) in the sliding direction, and the main body portion 13a is on the front side in the sliding direction (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2) [FIG. b)].

  (3) Next, the operation member 15 faces the slide member 13 with the upper shaft portion 15e facing upward, and the lower shaft portion 15c of the operation member 15 is engaged with the round hole 36 of the slide member 13. Then, the operation member 15 is disposed on the slide member 13. In this state, the base portion 15a of the operation member 15 is disposed inside the base 11, and the operation portion 15b is disposed outside the base 11 [see FIG. 8C].

(4) Next, the torsion coil spring 14 is faced on the operation member 15, and the winding portion 14a is disposed so as to surround the outer side of the upper shaft portion 15e, and the latching end portions 14b and 14b are arranged on the peripheral wall portion 15d. Extending outward through the notches 15f and 15f, the leading ends of the latching end portions 14b and 14b are engaged and fixed to the inner surface of the base 11, respectively (see FIG. 8D). With the attachment of the torsion coil spring 14, a spring force that moves backward (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 2) in the sliding direction is always applied to the slide member 13 and the operation member 15. As a result, the slide member 13 and the operation member 15 are normally placed rearward in the sliding direction, that is, in a reference position. At the same time, the operation member 15 that rotates integrally in the left-right direction is balanced and held in the neutral position by the engagement between the notches 15f and 15f and the latching end portions 14b and 14b of the torsion coil spring 14, and the operation member 15 is operated. The member 15 is held in a state of being vertically extended in the sliding direction. 8B, when the slide member 13 is disposed at the reference position, the first slider 32b of the slide member 13 is in contact with the common external terminal 18b on the base 11 side. The first slider pieces 32a and 32e are in contact with the external terminals 18a and 18e on the base 11 side, respectively. On the other hand, the first slider pieces 32c and 32d correspond to the external terminals 18c and 18d on the base 11 side in a state of being separated from each other.

  (5) The steel ball 55 is placed in the concave portion 15g of the upper shaft portion 15e, and then the cover 12 is attached to the base 11 from above the operation member 15. In attaching the cover 12, the locking piece 12 b of the cover 12 is made to correspond to the locking claw 17 of the base 11, and the cover 12 is pressed toward the base 11. By this pressing operation, each locking piece 12b, 12b... Moves along the outside of the side wall 11b. In the middle, each locking piece 12b, 12b ... collides with the locking claws 17, 17 .... However, since the locking claws 17, 17... Are formed with inclined surfaces 17 a so as to make contact with the tips of the locking pieces 12 b, 12 b, the locking pieces 12 b, 12 b. .., The respective locking pieces 12b, 12b,... Are deflected outward along the inclined surface 17a due to their own elastic deformation, and are released. When the engagement hole 22 finishes passing through the locking claws 17, 17,..., The locking pieces 12b, 12b... Are elastically restored, and the engagement hole 22 and the locking claws 17 are engaged with each other. The engagement prevents the cover 12 from falling off the base 11, thereby completing the assembly. FIGS. 1 to 3 show the composite operation type switch device 10 after completion assembled in this way, and the switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 are all turned off.

  Next, the operation of the composite operation type switch device 10 configured as described above will be described. First, operations of the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the operation member 15 is in the left-right neutral position and the slide member 13 is disposed at the reference position together with the operation member 15. In this state, the second slider pieces 34 b and 34 c are in contact with the electrode pattern 41, and the second slider pieces 34 a and 34 d correspond to the notch portion 56 of the electrode pattern 41 and correspond to the electrode pattern 41. Is away.

  When the user grips the operation portion 15b of the operation member 15 with his / her finger and rotates it to the right as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the operation member 15 causes the latching end portions 14b and 14b of the torsion coil spring 14 to move. Rotates while elastically deforming. In this rotation operation, when the operation member 15 is rotated to the left tilted, for example, by 10 degrees, the second slider piece 34d comes into contact with the electrode pattern 41 and the second switch SW2 is turned on. When the rotation operation in the right direction is completed, when the external force that has rotated the operation member 15 is released, the operation member 15 is automatically returned to the neutral position by the restoring force of the spring of the torsion coil spring 14, and The second switch SW2 is electrically turned off again.

  On the contrary, when the operation member 15 is rotated leftward, the second slider piece 34a contacts the electrode pattern 41 and the first switch SW1 is turned on. When the operation in the left direction is completed, when the external force that has rotated the operation member 15 is released, the operation member 15 is automatically returned to the neutral position, and the first switch SW1 is electrically turned off again.

Next, the operation of the third switch SW3 and the fourth switch SW4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 2, but some components are omitted for convenience of explanation. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the operation member 15 is in the left-right neutral position and the slide member 13 is disposed at the reference position together with the operation member 15 as in FIG. 9A. . That is, in the state where the slide member 13 is disposed at the reference position as shown in FIG. 10A, the first slider pieces 32c and 32d are separated from the external terminals 18c and 18d, respectively, and the third Both the switch SW3 and the fourth switch SW4 are electrically off. Further, the steel ball 55 constituting the feeling imparting means 57 together with the undulating portion 12d of the spring piece 12c in the cover 12 is disposed on the reference position side and is away from the undulating portion 12d.

  Then, in the state of the reference position shown in FIG. 10A, when the user pushes the operation member 15 forward with the finger with the finger, the operation member 15 and the slide member 13 are integrally formed with the torsion coil spring 14. The latching ends 14b and 14b are slid forward in the sliding direction while being elastically deformed. The steel ball 55 also moves in the pushing direction integrally with the movement of the operation member 15, and abuts against the undulating portion 12d during the movement. At the same time, the third slider piece 32c comes into contact with the external terminal 18c and is electrically turned on, and this can be taken out as an on signal of the third switch SW3. Accordingly, when the steel ball 55 has a feeling of resistance in contact with the undulating portion 12d, the third switch SW3 is turned on, and when the operator's finger receives this feeling, the operator switches the third switch It is possible to know that SW3 is turned on.

  When the steel ball 55 is further moved in the pushing direction, the undulating portion 12d is released to the outside by the elastic deformation of the spring piece 12c, and the steel ball 55 gets over the undulating portion 12d and moves to the pushing side. FIG. 10B shows a state in the middle of overcoming this. When the steel ball 55 finishes over the undulating portion 12d, a click feeling over the undulating portion 12d is transmitted to the operator's finger. At the same time, the second slider piece 32d comes into contact with the external terminal 18d and is electrically turned on, and this can be taken out as an on signal of the fourth switch SW4. FIG. 10C shows a state when the fourth switch SW4 is turned on in a stepwise manner behind the third switch SW3. Therefore, when the steel ball 55 has passed over the undulating portion 12d, the fourth switch SW4 is on, and the operator knows that the fourth switch SW4 has been turned on by receiving this feeling. be able to.

  When the pressure on the operation member 15 is released, the operation member 15 and the slide member 13 are automatically returned to the rear in the sliding direction, that is, to the reference position by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 14 that has been bent until then. . Even during this automatic return, the steel ball 55 gets back over the undulating portion 12d while pushing back the spring piece 12c, and when it gets over, the operator feels click and the fourth switch SW4 is electrically switched off again. Subsequently, the third switch SW3 is also electrically turned off.

  As described above, in the composite operation type switch device 10 according to the present embodiment, when the operation member 15 is rotated leftward, the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are operated stepwise in order, and are rotated rightward. The second switch SW2 and the first switch SW1 are operated in stages. When the operation member 15 is pushed in, the third switch SW3 and the fourth switch SW4 are operated stepwise. That is, since one operation member 15 can have four switching numbers, various operations can be performed by operating one operation member 15, and the number of switch devices to be used can be reduced. Can be reduced in size and cost.

  In addition, since each operation switches the two switches SW3 and SW4 stepwise, a device that performs successive operations stepwise, for example, an operation such as shutter release after zooming with a camera is performed. The effect is obtained when it is applied to a place to perform.

  In addition, when the operation member 15 is pushed in, the feel imparting means 57 constituted by the undulating portion 12d and the steel ball 55 transmits the click feel to the operator, so that the operator operates until the click feel is obtained. Thus, the switching operation between the third switch SW3 and the fourth switch SW can be performed reliably, which can contribute to the improvement of reliability.

  Further, since the steel ball 55 is used, the steel ball 55 can smoothly get over the undulating portion 12d, and a smooth click feeling can be obtained, thereby increasing the sense of quality. Furthermore, since the spring piece 12c for the feeling imparting means 57 is formed integrally with the cover 12, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

  Further, since the bottom surface and the side surface forming the storage portion 16 of the base 11 are not provided with a gap that allows entry of flux or the like, the flux of the reflow solder can be obtained even when solder mounting using the reflow soldering method is performed. There is no intrusion inside. Therefore, there is an advantage that a multistage operation type switch device suitable for reflow soldering can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the urging member that allows the operation member to be always restored to the reference position uses the torsion coil spring 14 that has a simple structure and can be made at low cost, the cost is reduced and provided at a low cost. can do.

  Further, when the locking piece 12b on the cover 12 side is slid along the both side surfaces of the base 11, the engaging hole 22 of the locking piece 12b and the locking claw 17 of the base 11 are engaged with each other. Since the cover 12 can be easily attached to the base 11 by the engagement, the assembly work can be simplified.

  In addition, in the structure of the said Example, although the structure which comprised the feeling imparting member 57 by the undulating part 12d and the steel ball 55 was disclosed, it replaces with the steel ball 55 and a protrusion may be used. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified one.

1 is an external perspective view of a multistage operation type switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal side view of a present Example apparatus. The disassembled perspective view of a present Example apparatus. The perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the electrode pattern on the base of a present Example apparatus. The perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the thin metal leaf | plate spring material on the slide member of a present Example apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of the electrode pattern on the operation member of a present Example apparatus. The perspective view of the torsion coil spring currently used with the apparatus of a present Example. It is an assembly process figure for demonstrating an example of the assembly procedure of a present Example apparatus, (a) is the figure which prepared the base, (b) is the figure which incorporated the slide member in the base, (c) is the slide to the base The figure which incorporated the member and the operation member, (d) is the figure which incorporated the slide member, the operation member, and the torsion coil spring in the base. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the operation member of a present Example apparatus, (a) is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the operation member and a slide member when the operation member is arrange | positioned in the neutral position, (b) is operation. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the operation member and slide member after a member is rotated leftward. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in pushing operation of the operation member of a present Example apparatus, (a) is a state figure before the operation member is pushed in, (b) is a state figure in the middle of pushing in of an operation member, (c) is It is a state figure at the time of completion of pushing of an operation member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Composite operation type switch apparatus 11 Base 12 Cover 12c Spring piece 12d Unraveling part 13 Slide member 14 Torsion coil spring 14a Winding part 14b End for latching 15 Operation member 15g Concave part 16 Storage part 18 Electrode pattern 18a External terminal (1st Switch SW1)
18b Common external terminal 18c External terminal (for third switch SW1)
18d External terminal (for fourth switch SW1)
18e External terminal (for second switch SW1)
41 Electrode pattern 52 Slit 55 Steel ball (sphere)
57 Feeling imparting means

Claims (6)

An insulating base;
An operation member provided on the base in a state in which the base can be rotated in the left-right direction and pushed in a linear direction;
The urging force that the operation member always applies to the operation member an urging force for automatically restoring the operation member to the reference position with respect to the pushing direction of the operation member and the neutral position with respect to the left and right rotation directions. A member,
First and second switch portions that perform a switch operation by rotating the operation member in the left-right direction;
Third and fourth switch parts that perform a switch operation in stages by pushing the operation member in the pushing direction;
A feeling imparting means for imparting a click feeling to the stepwise switching operation of the third and / or the fourth switch part;
A combined operation type switch device.   The feel imparting means is provided between a cover covering the base and the operation member facing the cover, and at least one of the cover and the operation member is provided on the other side when the operation member is pushed. 2. The composite operation type switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a undulation portion that provides the click feeling.   3. The composite operation according to claim 2, wherein the undulating portion is provided with springiness on the cover side, and a sphere that moves integrally with the operating member and moves over the undulating portion is rotatably provided on the operating member side. Type switch device.   4. The composite operation type switch device according to claim 2, wherein a tongue-like spring piece having the undulating portion is formed integrally with the cover.   The operation member and the base are coupled to the operation member so as to be slidable in the push-in direction together with the operation member with the operation member, and the operation member is rotatably coupled in the left-right direction. A slide member, the first and second switch portions between the slide member and the operation member, and the third and fourth switch portions between the slide member and the base. The composite operation type switch device according to claim 1, 2, or 3. The biasing member is formed of a torsion coil spring integrally including a ring-wound winding portion and a latching end portion extending in opposite directions from both winding ends of the winding portion toward the outside. 6. The winding portion according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the winding portion is disposed so as to surround the rotation center of the operation member, and the latching end portions at both ends are respectively attached to the base side. Composite operation type switch device.

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