JP2007073264A - Switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device which ensures excellent assembly workability and is applied to various operation methods. <P>SOLUTION: A switch device 1 is, in a housing 19, provided with: a circuit board 6 with a fixed contact 7; a rubber sheet 8 which has, at many locations, protruding swelling portions 8a with the elastic buckling deformation capability and is mounted on the circuit board 6; an actuator 9 which is supported by a swing support 4 so that it may swing; and an operation control element (rotary knob) 13 having a driver 13b which is engaged with the actuator 9. A moving contact 18 attached in each swelling portion 8a is located in opposition to the fixed contact 7 on the circuit board 6, so that they may be connected and/or disconnected to/from each other. Both swing ends 9b of the actuator 9 are mounted on different swelling portions 8a in a resilient contact state. When the operation control element 13 is rotated, the driver 13b swings and rotates the actuator 9. In turn, the swing ends 9b on the actuator 9 perform pushing drive of the swelling portion 8a on the lower side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device capable of selectively operating a pair of switch elements by the same operation member.

Conventional examples of this type of switch device include a pair of switch elements disposed on a circuit board in a housing, an actuator mounted over the switch elements, and an operation that can swing on the actuator. The thing of the structure provided with the member is known (for example, refer patent document 1). In such a conventional switch device, a part of the operation member held swingably in the housing is exposed from the window portion of the housing so that it can be operated by an operator's finger, and when this operation member is operated. Since one end of the actuator is pushed and the lower switch element is pressed and driven, the switch-on signal is selectively sent from the pair of switch elements by selectively pushing both ends of the actuator with the operation member. Can be output.
JP-A-8-7701 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

  In the conventional switch device described above, the actuator is sandwiched between the switch element and the operation member, and the actuator is held only after the assembly of the operation member is completed. Positional displacement and dropout are likely to occur, and this is a major factor that impairs assembly workability. In addition, in this conventional example, since it is necessary to push the actuator downward with the operation member, the operation method of the operation member is greatly restricted, and it is difficult to apply it to, for example, a slide operation type switch device. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the situation of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that has good assembly workability and can be applied to various operation methods.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the switch device of the present invention, a circuit board installed inside the housing, and a bulging portion placed on the circuit board and capable of elastically buckling and deforming at a plurality of locations. A protruding rubber sheet, a swing support portion provided inside the housing in an area where the circuit board and the rubber sheet do not exist, an actuator swingably supported by the swing support portion, and the actuator And an operating member that is partly exposed to the outside of the housing, and a movable contact provided in the bulge is provided on the circuit board and can be contacted and separated from the fixed contact. The swinging end of the actuator is mounted on the different bulges in a resilient contact state, and the drive unit swings and rotates the actuator during operation of the operating member. The bulging portion in which the oscillating end portion corresponding to configured to buckling deformed by Rukoto.

  The switch device configured as described above is configured so that both swinging end portions of the actuator supported swingably on the swinging support portion in the housing are on different bulging portions of the rubber sheet on which the circuit board is mounted. Since the actuator is mounted in an elastic contact state, the actuator can be set in a preload state in which a reaction force is applied to each oscillating end portion from the lower bulging portion at the assembly stage. Therefore, the actuator can be mounted in the housing in a positioning state in which no play occurs, and the rubber sheet can be prevented from being displaced or dropped at each swinging end portion of the actuator, so that the assembling workability is improved. In addition, the actuator supported so as to be swingable by the swing support portion can be easily swung and rotated not only by the lower but also by a lateral or oblique driving force. Can be applied without difficulty to the operation method.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the actuator is pivotally attached to the swing support portion by snap coupling because the assembly workability is further improved. For example, the actuator has a rocking shaft portion whose axis is aligned with the rocking center, and a rocking support portion in the housing has a pair of standing wall portions that rise substantially in parallel, and these vertical wall portions oppose each other. If both ends of the swing shaft are pivotally attached to the shaft hole drilled at the location where the actuator is to be drilled, the actuator's swing shaft can be press-fitted between a pair of standing walls during assembly. Can be combined.

  In the switch device of the present invention, both the swinging end portions of the actuator are mounted in elastic contact on different bulging portions of the rubber seat, so that this actuator can be set in a preload state at the assembly stage. Therefore, the actuator can be mounted in the housing in a positioning state in which no play occurs, and the rubber sheet can be prevented from being displaced or dropped at each swinging end portion of the actuator, so that the assembling workability is improved. In addition, the actuator supported by the swing support part so as to be swingable can be easily swung and rotated not only by the downward direction but also by lateral or oblique driving force, so it can be applied without difficulty to various operating methods. Therefore, a highly versatile switch device can be obtained.

  An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a steering switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembled product of the switch device, and FIG. Is a front view showing a steering wheel equipped with the switch device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an operation at the time of rotating the switch device, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a rubber seat incorporated in the switch device, and FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the return spring integrated in this switch apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the steering switch device 1 according to the present embodiment is mounted in a pair of left and right inside an annular portion 31 of a steering wheel 30 of an automobile. Although the pair of steering switch devices 1 are formed in a symmetrical shape but have the same basic structure, only the steering switch device 1 mounted on the right side of FIG. 3 will be described below.

  The steering switch device 1 includes a lower case 2 in which a positioning pin 3 and a swing support portion 4 are erected, and a circuit board installed in the lower case 2 with a wiring pattern including a fixed contact 7 formed on the upper surface. 6, a rubber sheet 8 having a dome-shaped bulging portion 8a at a plurality of locations and placed on the circuit board 6, and a swing shaft portion 9a are pivotally supported by the swing support portion 4 and swing ends. An actuator 9 having a portion 9b mounted on the bulging portion 8a, an upper case 10 attached to the lower case 2 so as to cover the circuit board 6 and the rubber sheet 8, and an upper case 10 having a window portion 11a. The integrated frame-shaped case 11, the rotary knob 13 that is rotatably supported in the lower case 2 and a part of which is exposed to the window portion 11 a, and the rotary shaft 13 a of the rotary knob 13 are wound around and rotated. A torsion coil spring 14 that operates as a return spring during operation; The lower case has two operation keys 15 and 16 which are supported by the upper case 10 so as to be movable up and down at two places adjacent to the cylindrical case 11 and whose lower ends are mounted on the bulging portion 8a, and an opening 17a 2 and the cover body 17 that closes the upper case 10. Then, a rotation operation with respect to the rotary knob 13 and a pressing operation with respect to the operation keys 15 and 16 can be performed. Regardless of which operation is selected, the corresponding bulging portion 8a is elastically buckled and deformed. As a result, a click feeling is generated, and the movable contact 18 in the bulging portion 8a comes into contact with the fixed contact 7 on the circuit board 6 to be switched on (see FIG. 5). The lower case 2, the upper case 10, and the frame-shaped case 11 constitute a housing 19. The circuit board 6, the rubber sheet 8, the actuator 9, the torsion coil spring 14, and the like are accommodated in the internal space of the housing 19. In addition, the rotary knob 13 and the operation keys 15 and 16 are exposed on the upper surface side of the housing 19 and can be operated with fingers.

  The configuration of each part will be described in detail. Inside the lower case 2 is a swing support comprising a positioning pin 3 for positioning the circuit board 6 and the rubber sheet 8, and a pair of upright walls 4b having a shaft hole 4a for the actuator 9. 4 and the support wall 12 having the shaft groove 12a for the rotary knob 13 are erected, and the pair of standing wall portions 4b are erected substantially in parallel and have shaft holes 4a formed at opposite positions. Yes. In addition, a plurality of terminal holes 2a are arranged in one side portion in the lower case 2, and a shaft hole for the rotary knob 13 is provided in the other side portion in the lower case 2 at a location facing the shaft groove 12a. 2b is formed, and an engagement step portion 5 inclined in an inverted C shape for elastically contacting both arms 14a of the torsion coil spring 14 is provided in the vicinity thereof.

  The circuit board 6 is installed in the housing 19 so as to be substantially parallel to the window portion 11a. On the circuit board 6, a wiring pattern (not shown) including the fixed contact 7 is formed, and the illumination LED 20 and the like A terminal 21 for external connection is provided. Further, the circuit board 6 is formed with a plurality of through holes 6a through which the positioning pins 3 are inserted, and a cutout part 6b serving as an arrangement space for the swing support part 4, corresponding to each through hole 6a. In a state where the positioning pins 3 are inserted and the respective terminals 21 are inserted into the corresponding terminal holes 2a, the circuit board 6 is accurately positioned and placed and fixed on the lower case 2.

  The rubber sheet 8 is an integrally molded product made of elastic rubber. From the sheet-like portion, six bulged portions 8a that can buckle and deform, and two pin engaging portions 8b that are attached to the positioning pins 3 are provided. The two rectangular tube portions 8c into which the LEDs 20 are inserted are formed so as to protrude, and a cut-out portion 8d serving as an arrangement space for the swing support portion 4 is formed immediately above the cut-out portion 6b of the circuit board 6. Yes. The rubber sheet 8 is placed and fixed on the circuit board 6 in a positioning state in which each pin engaging portion 8b is attached to the corresponding positioning pin 3, and as shown in FIG. The movable contacts 18 provided on the ceiling surface are opposed to the corresponding fixed contacts 7 so as to be able to contact and separate.

  The actuator 9 has a rocking shaft portion 9a whose axis is aligned with the rocking center, and swings by pivoting both ends of the rocking shaft portion 9a to the shaft holes 4a of the pair of standing wall portions 4b. The moving support unit 4 is supported so as to be able to swing. As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 9 is formed in a line-symmetric shape with respect to the swing shaft portion 9a, and the swing end portions 9b at both ends shown in the figure are arranged in parallel via a cut portion 8d. It is mounted in an elastic contact state on the bulging portion 8a. That is, when the swinging shaft portion 9a of the actuator 9 is press-fitted between the pair of standing wall portions 4b at the assembly stage, the swinging end portions 9b are disposed on the corresponding bulging portions 8a, and then swung. Since both end portions of the shaft portion 9a enter the shaft hole 4a and are pivotally mounted, the actuator 9 is snap-coupled to the swing support portion 4, and each swing end portion 9b applies a reaction force from the corresponding bulging portion 8a. The preloaded state is maintained. The actuator 9 is disposed adjacent to the support wall 12 located on one side of the rotary knob 13, and the rotary knob 13 is described later in a notch 9 c formed in the center of the actuator 9. The drive unit 13b is inserted so as to be movable up and down. And the inner wall which opposes via the notch 9c becomes the engaging part 9d which engages this drive part 13b so that sliding is possible, and when the rotary knob 13 is rotated, the drive part 13b is integrated. The actuator 9 swings and rotates in one direction around the swing shaft 9a, and the biased swing end 9b descends. The corresponding bulging portion 8a is pressed and driven.

  The rotary knob 13 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape including a rotary shaft 13a, and both ends of the rotary shaft 13a are rotatably supported by the shaft groove 12a of the support wall 12 and the shaft hole 2b of the lower case 2. Has been. A driving portion 13b extending in an L shape on the outer side of the support wall 12 protrudes from an end portion of the rotating shaft 13a on the shaft groove 12a side, and a tip end portion of the driving portion 13b is set to a predetermined rotation radius. At the same time, it extends parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 13 a and is inserted into the notch 9 c of the actuator 9. The torsion coil spring 14 is wound around the end of the rotary shaft 13a of the rotary knob 13 on the shaft hole 2b side. As shown in FIG. 2 is in elastic contact with the engaging step 5 in the inner wall. Thereby, when the rotary knob 13 is rotated, the arm portion 14a in the rotation direction is strongly pressed against the engagement step portion 5 to generate an elastic repulsive force, and the rotary knob 13 after the rotating operation is caused by this elastic repulsive force. It comes to automatically return. 6 is a cross-sectional view as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, that is, in the direction from the shaft hole 12 c side of the holder 12 toward the shaft groove 12 a side of the holder 12.

  A frame-like case 11 is attached to a predetermined position of the upper case 10, and the upper case 10 is fixed on the lower case 2 by appropriate means such as screws 22 and caulking. Operation keys 15 and 16 are supported on the upper case 10 so as to be movable up and down, and the upper surfaces of these operation keys 15 and 16 are exposed at two locations adjacent to the frame-shaped case 11. In the present embodiment, the case where a separate frame-like case 11 is retrofitted to the upper case 10 is illustrated, but the upper case 10 and the frame-like case 11 may be integrally molded products.

  The cover body 17 is fixed to the outer wall surface of the lower case 2 by appropriate means such as snap coupling, and the frame-like case 11 with the rotary knob 13 exposed in the opening 17a of the cover body 17 and the operation keys 15 and 16. Is coming out. The operator can selectively perform the rotating operation of the rotary knob 13 and the pressing operation of the operation keys 15 and 16 by moving a finger within the opening 17a.

  Next, the operation of the steering switch device 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the operation when the rotary knob 13 is rotated will be described mainly with reference to FIG. When the operator rotates the rotary knob 13 with fingers in the neutral state shown in FIG. 4A, the torsion coil spring 14 is pushed and bent in the lower case 2, and the drive unit 13 b is integrated with the rotary knob 13. In order to drive the actuator 9 by rotating, a predetermined bulging portion 8a is pressed by the actuator 9. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the rotary knob 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the drive unit 13b in the notch 9c of the actuator 9 rotates while pushing the engagement portion 9d on the right side of the drawing. As the actuator 9 oscillates and rotates clockwise about the oscillating shaft portion 9a, the oscillating end portion 9b on the right side of the drawing descends while pushing the lower bulging portion 8a. As a result, the bulging portion 8a is elastically buckled and causes a click feeling, and the movable contact 18 in the bulging portion 8a comes into contact with the corresponding fixed contact 7 to output a switch-on signal. The The operation when the rotary knob 13 is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A is the same. In this case, the left swing end portion 9b shown in FIG. 4 pushes the lower bulging portion 8a and buckles. A switch-on signal resulting from the deformation is output.

  In addition, when the rotational operation force on the rotary knob 13 is removed in the state of FIG. 4B, the bulging portion 8a that has been buckled and deformed returns to its original dome shape by its own elastic force. The movable contact 18 moves away from the fixed contact 7 and is switched off, and the swinging end 9b on the right side of the figure is pushed up by the bulging portion 8a, and the actuator 9 swings and rotates counterclockwise. In addition, since the rotary knob 13 closes and biases the torsion coil spring 14 as shown in FIG. 6B during the rotation operation, the elastic repulsive force of the torsion coil spring 14 is rotated. 13 and the actuator 9 act as a force for returning to the original position. Therefore, when the rotational operation force is removed, the rotary knob 13 and the actuator 9 reliably rotate backward to their neutral positions and automatically return to the neutral state shown in FIG.

  When the operation force is removed after the rotation operation, the rotary knob 13 is automatically returned to the substantially neutral position by the elastic repulsive force of the bulging portion 8a that has been pushed into the swing end portion 9b of the actuator 9, so that the torsion coil A configuration in which the spring 14 is omitted is also possible. However, if the torsion coil spring 14 is incorporated as a return spring after the rotation operation as in this embodiment, even if there is some backlash between the drive portion 13b of the rotary knob 13 and the actuator 9 when not operated. Since the rotary knob 13 itself is kept free of play by the torsion coil spring 14, the dimensional accuracy can be set to be relatively rough, and the parts cost can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved.

  Next, the operation when the operation key 15 is pressed will be described. Since the operation key 15 is mounted on the corresponding bulging portion 8a, the bulging portion 8a is elastically buckled during the pressing operation. The deformation causes a click feeling, and the movable contact 18 in the bulging portion 8a comes into contact with the corresponding fixed contact 7 to output a switch-on signal. When the pressing operation force is removed, the bulging portion 8a that has been buckled and deformed returns to its original dome shape by its own elastic force, so that the movable contact 18 is separated from the fixed contact 7 and switched off. In addition to switching, the pressed operation key 15 is pushed up by the bulging portion 8a and automatically returns to the original position. Note that the operation when the other operation key 16 is pressed is completely the same as this, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the switch device 1 according to this embodiment, the actuator 9 is swingably supported by the swing support portion 4 standing in the housing 19, and both swing end portions 9 b of the actuator 9 are supported. Are mounted in elastic contact on different bulges 8a of the rubber sheet 8, so that the actuator 9 is applied with reaction force from the lower bulges 8a on both swinging ends 9b in the assembly stage. The preload state can be set. Accordingly, the actuator 9 can be mounted in the housing 19 in a positioning state in which no play occurs, and the positional displacement and dropout of the rubber sheet 8 can be prevented by the both swinging end portions 9b of the actuator 9, and the assembly workability Becomes better. Moreover, when the actuator 9 is attached, the swing shaft portion 9a can be snap-coupled to the swing support portion 4 by press-fitting between the pair of standing wall portions 4b, and both swing end portions 9b. Can be elastically contacted on the corresponding bulging portion 8a, so that very good assembly workability can be expected.

  Further, in the switch device 1 according to this embodiment, the housing 19 is constituted by the upper case 10 in which the frame-shaped case 11 having the window portion 11a is integrated, and the lower case 2 to which the upper case 10 is attached. Since the actuator 9 is swingably supported by the lower case 2 and the rotary knob 13 is rotatably supported by the lower case 2, the circuit board 6, the rubber sheet 8, The actuator 9 and the rotary knob 13 can all be assembled, and the assembly is completed when the upper case 10 is attached to the lower case 2. Therefore, from this point, the switch device is excellent in assemblability.

  Furthermore, in the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment, the tip of the drive unit 13b extending in parallel along the axial direction of the rotary knob 13 is inserted into a notch 9c provided in the center of the actuator 9, and the rotary knob 13 is inserted. Since the drive portion 13b is designed to slide along the engaging portion 9d of the actuator 9 during the rotational operation of the actuator 13, the actuator 9 can be smoothly swung and rotated with the rotational movement of the drive portion 13b. Can always be expected stable operation. The notch 9c of the actuator 9 may be a long hole instead of a concave groove.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a main part of a switch device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to those in FIGS.

  The switch device shown in FIG. 7 is a slide operation type in which the operation knob 23 can be reciprocated in the left-right direction in the figure, and a drive portion 23 a suspended from the operation knob 23 is slidably engaged with the actuator 9. Therefore, when the operation knob 23 is slid, the actuator 9 can be swung and rotated by the drive unit 23a. That is, in this embodiment, the groove shape of the notch 9c of the actuator 9 is substantially C-shaped. Therefore, when the drive unit 23a of the operation knob 23 is moved in the left-right direction in the figure by a slide operation, the drive unit 23a The actuator 9 can be smoothly swung and rotated, and the swing end 9b of the actuator 9 is lowered on the side where the drive unit 23a slides, and the lower bulging portion 8a is pressed and driven. . The groove shape of the notch 9c may be substantially V-shaped.

  As is clear from the above embodiments, the actuator 9 that is swingably supported by the swing support portion 4 in the housing 19 includes the drive portion 13b of the rotary knob 13 and the drive portion 23a of the operation knob 23. Therefore, the switch device according to the present invention can be easily applied to various operation methods such as a rotation operation and a slide operation. High versatility can be expected.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the switch apparatus which concerns on the embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly completion product of this switch apparatus. It is a front view which shows the steering wheel which mounted | wore with this switch apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of rotation operation of this switch apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing of the rubber seat integrated in this switch apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the return spring integrated in this switch apparatus. It is principal part explanatory drawing of the switch apparatus which concerns on the other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch apparatus 2 Lower case 4 Swing support part 4a Shaft hole 4b Standing wall part 5 Engagement step part 6 Circuit board 7 Fixed contact 8 Rubber sheet 8a Expansion part 9 Actuator 9a Swing shaft part 9b Swing end part 9c Notch 9d Engagement part 10 Upper case 11 Frame-like case 11a Window part 12 Support wall 13 Rotating knob (operation member)
13a Rotating shaft 13b Drive unit 14 Torsion coil spring (return spring)
17 Cover body 18 Movable contact 19 Housing 23 Operation knob (operation member)
23a Drive unit

Claims (3)

A circuit board installed inside the housing, a rubber sheet placed on the circuit board and projecting bulges that can be elastically buckled and deformed at a plurality of locations, and the existence of the circuit board and the rubber sheet. A swing support portion provided inside the housing in a non-operating region, an actuator supported swingably on the swing support portion, and a drive portion that engages with the actuator, a part of the housing And an operating member exposed to the outside,
A movable contact provided in the bulging portion is provided on the circuit board so as to be detachably opposed to the fixed contact, and the swinging end portion of the actuator is elastically contacted on the different bulging portions. The switch is mounted in a state, and the driving portion swings and rotates the actuator when the operation member is operated, so that the swollen end portion buckles and deforms the corresponding bulging portion. apparatus.   2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is pivotally attached to the swing support portion by snap coupling. 3. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the actuator has a swing shaft portion having an axis center aligned with a swing center thereof, and the swing support portion has a pair of standing wall portions standing substantially in parallel. A switch device characterized in that both end portions of the swinging shaft portion are pivotally attached to shaft holes formed in opposite portions of the portion.

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