JP2006071495A - Magnet structure, and magnetic switch using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic switch capable of performing position detection highly accurately without being influenced by disturbance magnetism and without requiring a shield case. <P>SOLUTION: The first frame body 20 having a hollow reverse L-shaped section and the second frame body 30 having a hollow L-shaped section are aligned on the front and the rear, and a Hall element 12 is faced to a gap passage T wherein gaps G1, G2 formed on each bottom wall are aligned and set to be displaceable. Since mutual reverse magnetic fluxes flow in the gaps G1, G2 by a magnet 21 extending in common to the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30, an output from the Hall element 12 is changed at the boundary position between the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30, to thereby enable position detection. Since the disturbance magnetism bypasses the gap passage T and passes through the first and second frame bodies, the magnetic flux state in the gap passage T is not influenced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnet structure for a magnetic switch using a Hall element and a magnetic switch using the same.

For example, as a vehicle stop lamp switch, there is a contact sliding type, but in this method there is a malfunction due to contact failure due to foreign matter or abnormal noise due to contact rubbing, so as a countermeasure, Hall element A contactless type switch using a magnetic switch using a switch has been proposed.
An example of such a contactless switch is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-81903. In this example, since the output of the Hall element changes according to the magnetic field angle due to the relative positional displacement of the magnet and the Hall element, the relative position is detected, and the output of the Hall element is a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined relative position. It can be configured to output an on or off switch signal when
JP 2002-81903 A

However, in the above conventional non-contact type switch, when the disturbance magnetic field exceeds the magnetism by the magnet inside the switch when the switch is exposed to the external magnetism, the output of the Hall element correctly corresponds to the predetermined position. As a result, the detection accuracy is lowered, and in some cases, malfunction may occur.
Therefore, in order to avoid the influence of disturbance magnetism, a measure for accommodating the magnet and the Hall element in the shield case is conceivable. However, there is a problem that the number of parts increases, the cost increases, and the size increases.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention uses a magnet structure that can detect a position and output a switch signal with high accuracy without being affected by disturbance magnetism, without using a new shield case, and uses the magnet structure. The purpose is to provide a magnetic switch.

The present invention includes a first opposing block portion whose end faces are opposed to each other across a first gap, and a yoke portion that connects the first opposing block portions to form a first circuit. 1 frame body, 2nd opposing block part which an end surface opposes on both sides of 2nd gap, and yoke part which connects between each 2nd opposing block part, and forms a 2nd circuit The first frame and the second gap are arranged so that the first gap and the second gap are sequentially arranged to form a gap passage, and a first magnet is provided in the first circuit. The magnetic structure was configured such that a magnetic flux was passed through the gap 1 and the magnetic flux was different from that of the second gap.
Also, a magnetic switch that detects the boundary position between the first frame and the second frame and outputs a detection signal by disposing the Hall element in the gap passage of the magnet structure so as to be relatively movable. It can be.

In the first frame body, the first opposing block portion serves as a magnetism collecting portion to restrict the magnetic flux to the first gap, and, for example, the magnetic flux state is different from that of the second gap set to magnetic flux 0 (zero) or the like. When the Hall element is moved so as to face the gap passage, the Hall element is moved between when it is located within the length range of the first gap and when it is located within the length range of the second gap. The output changes and the boundary position can be detected.
In addition, when exposed to disturbance magnetism, the magnetism passes through each yoke portion of the first frame body and the second frame body, and the first gap and the second gap are bypassed. Position detection can be performed with high accuracy without affecting the magnetic flux state in the gap passage and without being affected by disturbance magnetism.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show a configuration of a first embodiment applied to a stop lamp switch of a vehicle, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a side view. 2A and 2B show a cross section of the magnet structure, in which FIG. 2A shows an AA portion in FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B shows a BB portion in FIG.
The stop lamp switch 10 includes a magnet structure 16 and a hall element 12 as main elements. The magnet structure 16 is fixed to the vehicle body fixing side by brackets 18 and 19 as will be described later, and the Hall element 12 is supported by a support substrate 13 and connected to a brake pedal (not shown) via a link 15. It is movable along the guide 11 in relation to the magnet structure 16. The support substrate 13 is provided with an output circuit.
The magnet structure 16 includes a first frame body 20 and a second frame body 30 that are each made of a magnetic material and arranged in contact with each other, and a magnet 21 extends over the entire length of each frame body.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the cross section of the first frame 20 has a hollow inverted L shape, and the cross section of the second frame 30 is also hollow and symmetrical with respect to the first frame 20. L-shaped. One wall of each of the inverted L-shaped and L-shaped vertical pieces is located at the center in the width direction in each cross section to form the central walls 22 and 32, and the magnet 21 is inserted into each of the central walls 22 and 32. Is provided. The magnet 21 has its N and S poles aligned in the vertical direction of the central walls 22 and 32, respectively.

  The bottom wall of the lower side of the inverted L shape in the first frame 20 forms opposed block portions 25a and 25b whose end faces are opposed to each other with a gap G1 formed by cutting out the center in the width direction. The opposing block portions 25a and 25b are aligned with each other in the same shape, and form a magnetic flux collecting portion that narrows the magnetic flux generated by the magnet 21 interrupted into the central wall 22 to the size of the opposing surface in the gap G1. Yes.

The outer end of the opposing block portion 25a is composed of the side wall 24, the top wall 23, the central wall 22, the upper wall 27 of the lower side of the inverted L-shape, and the end wall 26 of the lower side which are the other walls of the inverted L-shaped vertical piece. It is connected to the outer end of the opposing block portion 25b via the yoke Y1.
The opposing block portions 25a and 25b and the yoke Y1 form one circuit, and in this circuit, the magnet 21 is provided on the central wall 22 here, so that this circuit becomes a magnetic collecting circuit for the gap G1.

  The bottom wall of the lower side of the L-shape in the second frame 30 also forms opposing block portions 35a and 35b whose end faces face each other across a gap G2 formed by cutting out the center in the width direction. The opposing block portions 35a and 35b are also aligned with each other in the same shape, and form a magnetic collecting portion that narrows the magnetic flux generated by the interrupting portion of the central wall 32 of the magnet 21 to approximately the size of the opposing surface in the gap G2. .

The outer end of the opposing block portion 35a is located outside the opposing block portion 35b via a yoke Y2 formed of an end wall 36 on the lower side of the L shape, an upper wall 37, a central wall 32, a top wall 33 and a side wall 34 of the lower side. Connected to the end.
The opposing block portions 35a and 35b and the yoke Y2 form one circuit, and in this circuit, the magnet 21 is provided on the central wall 32 here, so that this circuit becomes a magnetic collecting circuit for the gap G2.
The first frame 20 is fixed to the fixed side by the bracket 18 at the opposed block portions 25a and 25b, and the second frame 30 is fixed to the fixed side by the bracket 19 at the opposed block portions 35a and 35b.

The gap G1 and the gap G2 are aligned to form a straight gap passage T.
The hall element 12 is arranged facing the gap passage T (G1, G2). The Hall element 12 can determine the magnetic pole.
The Hall element 12 supported by the support substrate 13 moves along the guide 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the magnet structure 16 (the direction in which the first frame 20 and the second frame 30 are connected). By doing so, it is displaced relatively along the gap passage T. The support substrate 13 is connected to the brake pedal side via the link 15 as described above, and when the brake pedal reaches a predetermined depression amount, the Hall element 12 has a boundary between the gap G1 and the gap G2, that is, the first frame. It is set in advance so as to be located at the boundary between the body 20 and the second frame 30.

As described above, the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30 form a magnetic collecting circuit with the opposing block portion and the yoke, respectively. In the first frame body 20, the arrow in FIG. As shown by the symbol ra, the magnet 21 goes up the central wall 22, turns around the inverted L-shaped apex, passes through the side wall 24, passes through the opposing block portions 25 a, 25 b, and the upper wall 27 of the lower side of the inverted L-shaped to the magnet 21 A returning magnetic path is formed. Accordingly, a magnetic flux flows from the opposing block portion 25a toward the opposing block portion 25b in the gap G1.
On the other hand, in the second frame 30, as indicated by an arrow rb in FIG. 2B, the central wall 32 rises from the magnet 21, turns around the L-shaped apex, passes through the side wall 34, and faces the opposing block portion 35 b. , 35a, a magnetic path is formed that returns to the magnet 21 through the upper wall 37 of the lower side of the L-shape. Accordingly, in the gap G2, a magnetic flux flows from the opposing block portion 35b toward the opposing block portion 35a in the opposite direction to that in the first frame 20.

With the above configuration, this embodiment operates as follows.
First, when the Hall element 12 is located within the length range of the first frame 20, the Hall element 12 has a magnetic flux flowing from the opposing block portion 25a toward the opposing block portion 25b regardless of the position within the range. To generate a certain output. Further, when the Hall element 12 is located within the length range of the second frame 30, the Hall element 12 moves in the opposite direction from the opposing block portion 35a to the opposing block portion 35b regardless of the position within the range. When the Hall element 12 is exposed to the magnetic flux flowing to the first frame body 20, a constant output different from that when the Hall element 12 is located within the length range of the first frame 20 is generated.

  Therefore, when the Hall element 12 moves from the first frame 20 to the second frame 30 between the gaps G, the direction of magnetism is changed at the boundary between the first frame 20 and the second frame 30. Reverse. Since the Hall element 12 can discriminate the magnetic pole, that is, in response to the direction of magnetism, the output always changes at the boundary. Accordingly, the Hall element 12 detects the boundary position and outputs a detection signal, and based on this, the output circuit of the support substrate outputs a switch signal for turning on or off.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the magnet structure 16 includes first and second opposing block portions 25a and 25b that face each other across the gap G1, and a yoke Y1 that connects the opposing block portions. The second frame is provided with a first frame 20 that forms the circuit of FIG. 5, an opposing block portion 35a, 35b that face each other across the gap G2, and a yoke Y2 that connects the opposing block portions. The second frame 30 to be formed is arranged so that the gap G1 and the gap G2 are sequentially arranged to form the gap passage T, and the magnet 21 is provided in the first circuit and the second circuit, and the gap G1 and Gap G2 are configured such that the magnetic flux states are different, that is, the magnetic flux directions are opposite to each other.
As a result, the first circuit functions as a magnetic collecting circuit having the opposing block portions 25a and 25b as magnetic collecting portions, and the second circuit functions as a magnetic collecting circuit having the opposing block portions 35a and 35b as magnetic collecting portions. Since the magnetic flux states different from each other are generated in the gap G1 and the gap G2, the Hall element 12 disposed so as to be relatively movable facing the gap passage T has the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30. The boundary position of is detected with high accuracy.
Accordingly, the stop lamp switch outputs a stable switch signal at the predetermined stepping position by causing the predetermined stepping amount of the brake pedal to correspond to the boundary position between the first frame 20 and the second frame 30. it can.

  When exposed to disturbance magnetism, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, the yoke Y1 of the first frame 20 and the yoke Y2 of the second frame 30 cause the gaps G1 and G2 as shown by arrows. Since it is passed by bypass, it is not affected by the magnetic flux state in the gap passage T without providing a separate shield case or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the first frame 20 and the second frame 30 are arranged in contact with each other. However, when it is desired to detect that the amount of depression of the brake pedal is within a predetermined range. The first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30 may be separated from each other by the relative movement distance of the Hall element 12 corresponding to the predetermined range.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the magnet structure, in which (a) shows a CC section in (b) of FIG. 4 and (b) shows a DD section in (b) of FIG.
The magnet structure 16A has a first frame body 40 and a second frame body 50 each made of a magnetic material and connected in a line.

  The cross section of the first frame body 40 is a quadrangle, and the bottom wall forming the bottom side forms opposing block portions 45a and 45b whose end faces face each other across a gap G1 formed by cutting out the center in the width direction. . The outer end of the opposing block portion 45a is an outer end of the opposing block portion 45b via a yoke Y3 comprising a side wall 44 forming one side, an upper wall 43 forming the upper side, and a side wall 46 forming the other side. Connected to. The opposing block portions 45a and 45b and the yoke Y3 form one circuit.

A magnet 41 is provided so as to cut into the upper wall 43. The magnet 41 has its north and south poles aligned in the left-right direction of the upper wall 43.
As a result, the opposing block portions 45a and 45b form a magnetism collecting portion, and as shown by an arrow rc in FIG. 5A, proceed from the magnet 41 to the upper wall 43 to the right in the figure and pass through the side wall 44 to face each other. The magnetic flux collecting circuit returns to the magnet 41 on the upper wall 43 through the block portions 45 a and 45 b and the side wall 46. Therefore, in the gap G1, magnetic flux flows from the opposing block portion 45a toward the opposing block portion 45b.

The cross section of the second frame 50 is also the same quadrangle as the first frame 40, and the bottom wall has opposed block portions 55a whose end faces face each other across a gap G2 formed by cutting out the center in the width direction. 55b is formed. The outer end of the opposing block portion 55a is connected to the outer end of the opposing block portion 55b via a yoke Y4 composed of a side wall 54, an upper wall 53, and a side wall 56. The opposing block portions 55a and 55b and the yoke Y4 form one circuit.
However, unlike the first frame, no magnet is inserted into the upper wall 53.

In the magnet structure 16A, the gap G1 of the first frame 40 and the gap G2 of the second frame 50 are aligned to form a straight gap passage T, and the Hall element 12 facing the gap passage T is provided. It is set so as to be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction of the magnet structure 16A (the direction in which the first frame body 40 and the second frame body 50 are connected).
As shown in FIG. 4, a predetermined gap is provided between the first frame body 40 and the second frame body 50, so that the second frame body 50 has a magnetic flux in the first frame body 40. I am trying not to be affected.
The Hall element 12 is connected to the brake pedal side, and the magnet structure 16A is fixed to the fixing member side of the vehicle body. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

When the Hall element 12 is located within the length range of the first frame body 40, the Hall element 12 is exposed to the magnetic flux flowing from the opposing block portion 45a toward the opposing block portion 45b regardless of the position within the range. To generate a constant output. Further, when the Hall element 12 is positioned within the length range of the second frame 50, no magnet is provided in the second frame 50, so there is no magnetic flux between the opposing block portions, and the Hall The element does not generate an output corresponding to the magnetic pole regardless of the position within that range.
Therefore, when the Hall element 12 moves from the first frame body 40 to the second frame body 50 in the gap passage T, the magnetic flux is substantially reduced at the boundary between the first frame body 40 and the second frame body 50. Since it becomes 0 (zero), the output of the Hall element 12 always changes at the boundary. Thereby, the boundary position can be detected.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above and different magnetic flux states are generated in the gap G1 of the first frame 40 and the gap G2 of the second frame 50, respectively, the gap passage is the same as in the previous embodiment. The hall element 12 that faces the inside of T and is arranged so as to be relatively movable detects the boundary position between the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30 with high accuracy. By making it correspond to the boundary position between the first frame body 40 and the second frame body 50, a stable switch signal can be output at the predetermined stepping position.
Further, when exposed to disturbance magnetism, the yoke Y3 of the first frame 40 and the yoke Y4 of the second frame 50 pass through the gaps G1 and G2 so that the shield case is separately provided. Etc., it is not affected by the magnetic flux state in the gap passage.

  In the present embodiment, the magnet structure 16A has no magnet in the second frame 50. However, as a modification, the magnet can be inserted into the upper wall or the like in the same manner as the first frame 40. it can. However, in this case, the directions of the N pole and S pole of the magnet provided in the second frame 50 are provided in the opposite direction to the magnet 41 of the first frame 40. As a result, a magnetic flux that flows from the opposing block portion 55b toward the opposing block portion 55a is generated in the second frame body 50. Therefore, as the Hall element 12 moves, the first frame body 40 and the second frame body 50 are moved. The direction of magnetism is reversed at the boundary. Therefore, the output change at the boundary of the Hall element 12 becomes large, and the sensitivity is improved.

In the first embodiment, the magnet 21 is shared by the first frame body 20 and the second frame body 30, but the present invention is not limited to this, and separate magnets can be used. In that case, the positions where the magnets are provided are not limited to the central wall 22 in the yoke Y1 of the first frame 20, and the central wall 32 in the yoke Y2 of the second frame 30, but at any position in each yoke. Alternatively, it may be provided in the opposing block portion.
Similarly, in the second embodiment, the position of the magnet 41 is not limited to the upper wall 43 but can be anywhere in the opposing block portion and the yoke.

Further, in the embodiment, the magnet structures 16 and 16A are fixed and the hall element 12 is connected to the brake pedal side. On the contrary, the hall element is fixed and the magnet structure is moved to the brake pedal side. It is good also as what connects.
Furthermore, although the embodiment has been described with respect to an example applied to a stop lamp switch of a vehicle, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied as a magnetic switch in various fields in which position detection is performed without contact.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cross section of a magnet structure. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of an Example. It is a figure which shows the structure of a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the cross section of a magnet structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Stop lamp switch 11 Guide 12 Hall element 13 Support board 15 Link 16, 16A Magnet structure 18, 19 Bracket 20, 40 First frame 21, 41 Magnet 22, 32 Central wall 23, 33 Top wall 24, 34, 44, 46, 54, 56 Side wall 25a, 25b, 45a, 45b Opposing block (first opposing block)
26, 36 End wall 27, 37 Upper wall 30, 50 Second frame 35a, 35b, 55a, 55b Opposing block part (second opposing block part)
43, 53 Upper wall G1 gap (first gap)
G2 gap (second gap)
T gap passage Y1, Y3 Yoke (first yoke part)
Y2, Y4 Yoke (second yoke part)

Claims (4)

A first opposing block portion having end faces opposed to each other across the first gap, and a first yoke portion connecting between the opposite sides of the first opposing block portions opposite to each other A first frame forming a first circuit;
A second opposing block portion whose end faces are opposed to each other across the second gap, and a second yoke portion connecting between the opposite sides of the second opposing block portions opposite to each other. And a second frame forming a second circuit,
The first gap and the second gap are sequentially arranged to form a gap passage;
Providing a first magnet in the first circuit;
A magnet structure characterized in that a magnetic flux is caused to flow in the first gap, and a magnetic flux state different from that of the second gap is set. The magnet structure according to claim 1, wherein a second magnet is provided in the second circuit so that a magnetic flux in a direction opposite to the magnetic flux in the first gap flows through the second gap. The first magnet and the second magnet are an integral single magnet, and are provided in common to the first yoke portion of the first frame body and the second yoke portion of the second frame body,
When viewed in the direction in which the first frame body and the second frame body are arranged, the first yoke portion has an N pole of the single magnet sandwiching the gap passage of the first opposing block portion. And the S pole is connected to the other side of the first opposing block portion across the gap passage,
The second yoke portion connects the N pole of the single magnet to the other side of the second opposing block portion across the gap passage, and the S pole of the second opposing block portion. The magnet structure according to claim 2, wherein the magnet structure is connected to the one side across the gap passage. The magnet structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A hall element disposed so as to be movable relative to the magnet structure along an arrangement direction of the first frame body and the second frame body, facing the gap passage of the magnet structure body. ,
A magnetic switch that detects a boundary position between the first frame and the second frame and outputs a detection signal.

Images