JP2008071590A - Rotary electronic component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the outline of a case, that is to miniaturize a rotary electronic component. <P>SOLUTION: This rotary electronic component is equipped with a case 50 having a rotator housing part 71 in a circular arc shape, a rotator 150 housed in the rotator housing part 71 and rotating around a rotation axis L1 located outside the rotator housing part 71, and an electric functional part (slider 170 and sliding contact patterns 91, 93) the electrical output of which varies if the rotator 150 rotates. The rotator 150 has an inside guide part 151 and an outside guide part 153 which move by being guided by the side face 53 on the side close to the rotation axis L1 of the rotator housing part 71 and the side face 73 on the side remote from the rotation axis L1 respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary electronic component.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are small and thin rotary electronic components as devices for operating various portable devices such as digital cameras and mobile phones, computers, in-vehicle navigation systems, various OA devices, game machines, and the like. There is also a rotary electronic component (composite electronic component) having a structure having another function (for example, a function of a pressing electronic component).

The rotary electronic component is usually configured by attaching a rotating body to a shaft installed at the center thereof so as to be rotatable. However, in the case of the rotary electronic component having such a structure, another functional component cannot be installed in the portion where the shaft at the center of the rotating body is attached. For this reason, the shaft of the rotary electronic component is formed in a ring shape, and a rotating body is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the shaft to provide a space for storing other electronic components in the central opening of the shaft. Some have attempted to consolidate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, even in the rotary electronic component having such a structure, it has been difficult to further reduce the outer dimensions of the rotating body.
JP-A-8-185760

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a rotary electronic component that can be easily reduced in size.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is centered on a case having an arcuate rotating body storage section, and a rotation center axis stored in the rotating body storage section and located outside the rotating body storage section. A rotating body that rotates, and an electrical function unit that changes its electrical output as the rotating body rotates, the rotating body being closer to the rotation center axis of the rotating body storage unit. The rotary electronic component includes an inner guide portion and an outer guide portion that are respectively guided and moved by a side surface and a side surface far from the rotation center axis.

  In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, the electrical functional unit includes a sliding contact pattern installed in the rotating body storage portion of the case, and a sliding installed on the rotating body and sliding on the sliding contact pattern. The rotary electronic component according to claim 1, further comprising a child.

  In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the rotating body is configured by connecting the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion by a connecting portion, and the slider is connected to the inner guide portion from the connecting portion. The rotary electronic component according to claim 2, wherein the rotary electronic component protrudes into a gap between the outer guide portions.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is provided with a torsion coil spring including a coil portion and a resilient portion projecting radially outward from both ends of the coil portion, and the coil of the torsion coil spring A rotation part by inserting the elastic part into the rotary body storage part and engaging with the rotary body. The rotary electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an automatic body return mechanism is configured.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotating body storage portion provided in the case has an arc shape and does not have a structure surrounding the entire circumference of the rotation center axis. Miniaturization of the outer shape of the component can be achieved. Further, since the rotating body is guided by the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion, the rotating body can smoothly rotate even in the arc-shaped rotating body storage portion.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure an electrical functional portion having a structure in which the slider is in sliding contact with the sliding contact pattern.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since both sides of the slider are protected by the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion, deformation and destruction of the slider can be prevented. Further, since the slider is installed in an empty space between the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion, it is not necessary to provide a separate space for installing the slider, and the size can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the automatic return mechanism of the rotating body is installed by effectively using the inner side (rotation center axis side) portion of the rotating body storage portion of the case, the electronic component is enlarged. Therefore, the automatic return function can be easily given to the rotating body.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary electronic component (rotary electronic component with a pressing electronic component) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotary electronic component 1 as viewed from below. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are exploded perspective views of the rotary electronic component 1. In the following description, “upper (upper)” means a surface opposite to the surface on which the rotary electronic component 1 is placed on a circuit board (not shown), and “lower (lower)” means this rotary electronic component. The surface on the side where the component 1 is placed on a circuit board (not shown) shall be said.

  The rotary electronic component 1 houses a rotary electronic component unit 30 and another electronic component (hereinafter referred to as a “push button switch”) 10 installed at the rotation center position of the rotary electronic component unit 30 in a case 50. Configured. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, one circuit board (hereinafter referred to as “flexible circuit board”) 90, three electrode plates 110, and four contact plates 130 were insert-molded. The case 50, a rotating body 150 in which a slider 170 as an electrical function part is insert-molded, a movable contact plate 190, a dustproof sheet 210 installed on the movable contact plate 190, and the surroundings of the dustproof sheet 210 An automatic return mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “torsion coil spring”) 240 installed at a position surrounding the cover and a cover 230 are provided. Each component will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the case 50 and the flexible circuit board 90, the electrode plate 110, and the contact plate 130 that are insert-molded in the case 50, separately. As shown in the figure, the case 50 is formed of a synthetic resin in a substantially fan-shaped substantially flat plate shape, and has a substantially circular concave shape on the upper surface thereof to store the movable contact plate 190 (hereinafter referred to as “push button switch storage portion”). ”51, a ring-shaped concave spring storage portion 52 provided at a position surrounding the push button switch storage portion 51, a side wall 53 provided so as to surround the spring storage portion 52, and the outside of the side wall 53. And an arcuate rotating body storage portion 71 that stores the rotating body 150 and the slider 170 and the like. A pair of contact plate mounting portions 55, 55 are provided at positions on the bottom surface of the push button switch storage portion 51 of the case 50 that are in contact with the inner periphery facing about 180 °, and the pair of contact plate mounting portions 55 on the inner periphery. , 55 are provided with a pair of guide grooves 57 that are recessed outward in the radial direction at positions rotated by 90 °. The contact plate mounting portion 55 protrudes in a flat plate shape from the bottom surface of the push button switch housing portion 51 by a predetermined thickness dimension equal to or less than the thickness of the push button switch housing portion 51. The guide groove 57 is formed to have a size and shape for receiving and guiding a guide portion 197 provided on the movable contact plate 190 described below so as to be movable up and down. A circular concave dustproof sheet storage part 59 for storing the dustproof sheet 210 is provided around the push button switch storage part 51 on the upper surface of the case 50. The depth of the dustproof sheet storage portion 59 is substantially the same as the thickness of the dustproof sheet 210. On the other hand, the rotating body storage portion 71 is formed in an arc shape so as to surround the circular push button switch storage portion 51, and an outer arc-shaped outer peripheral side wall (on the side wall 53 of the rotating body storage portion 71). A lever insertion portion 75 including a notch for inserting a lever 157 of the rotating body 150 described below is provided in the approximate center of the opposing side wall 73. Further, on the outer peripheral side surface of the case 50, there are provided engaging portions 77 formed of a plurality of claw-like protrusions (four in this embodiment, but only three are shown in FIG. 4). Further, the side wall 53 on the side where the rotating body 150 of the spring storage portion 52 is installed is provided with a resilient portion insertion portion 67 that is cut out to the same plane as the bottom surface of the spring storage portion 52. In this embodiment, a polyamide resin is used as the material of the case 50, but various other resin materials may be used.

  The flexible circuit board 90 is configured by providing a pair of sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 in a circular arc shape on a substantially arc-shaped synthetic resin film having flexibility and a contact plate contact portion 95 connected to each of them. Yes. The sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 are electrical function units. In this embodiment, the material of the synthetic resin film is a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) film, but other various materials such as a polyimide film and a polyethylene terephthalate film may be used. The pair of sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 are on the same arc, one sliding contact pattern 91 is a highly conductive common pattern, and the other sliding contact pattern 93 is a resistor pattern. The sliding contact pattern 91 is configured by printing a carbon paste for preventing sulfuration on a pattern formed by printing a silver paste, and the sliding contact pattern 93 is configured by printing a carbon paste. A contact plate contact portion 95 connected to one end of the sliding contact pattern 91 is installed at one end portion of the flexible circuit board 90, and contact plate contact portions 95 connected to both ends of the slide contact pattern 93, respectively. Is installed at the other end of the flexible circuit board 90. Each of the contact plate contact portions 95 is configured by printing silver paste formed by kneading silver powder in urethane resin on a pattern formed by printing silver paste. Silver paste using urethane resin has elasticity.

  The electrode plate 110 has three substantially strip-shaped metal plates arranged in parallel so that their surfaces are flush with a predetermined gap, and the first terminal plate 111 having a narrow strip shape protrudes from each end, The root portion is bent downward at a right angle and further the tip portion is bent at a right angle outward (a direction away from the electrode plate 110), and the tip portion is configured as a mounting surface 113. Actually, as shown in FIG. 3, each electrode plate 110 is insert-molded in the case 50 and exposed on the bottom surface of the pushbutton switch housing 51, and each first terminal plate 111 is formed from the outer peripheral side wall of the case 50. It protrudes. The lower surfaces of the mounting surfaces 113 are located on the same surface as the lower surface of the case 50. In this embodiment, the electrode plate 110 is made of a phosphor bronze plate with silver plating, but other materials may be used.

  Each of the contact plates 130 is made of a metal plate, and is disposed in the vicinity of both ends of the flexible circuit board 90. The contact plate 130 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape so as to be positioned on the contact plate contact portion 95. From the side facing outward of the plate 130, the second terminal plate 131 having a strip shape is projected, its base portion is bent downward at a right angle, and its tip portion is outward at a right angle (from the contact plate 130). The tip portion is configured as a mounting surface 133 by bending in the direction of separating. The lower surfaces of the mounting surfaces 133 are located on the same plane as the lower surface of the case 50, similarly to the lower surface of the mounting surface 113 of the electrode plate 110. In this embodiment, the material of the abutting plate 130 is a phosphor bronze plate with a silver plated surface, but other materials may be used.

  In practice, as shown in FIG. 3, the flexible circuit board 90, the electrode plate 110, and the contact plate 130 are insert-molded in the case 50. At this time, the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 of the flexible circuit board 90 The electrode plates 110 are exposed on the bottom surface of the rotating body housing portion 71 and the bottom surface of the push button switch housing portion 51 of the case 50, respectively. The position of the exposed surface of the electrode plate 110 and the position of the exposed surface of the flexible circuit board 90 have a step (height position is different) in the height direction (thickness direction) of the case 50. Further, the contact plates 130 are respectively placed on the contact plate contact portions 95 of the flexible circuit board 90, and both are sandwiched by the synthetic resin constituting the case 50 and securely connected. FIG. 5 shows the insert molding process. This figure shows a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. That is, in this insert molding process, the contact plate 130 is in contact with each contact plate contact portion 95 of the flexible circuit board 90 shown in FIG. The contact plate 130 is a dummy contact plate that does not contact the contact plate contact portion 95), and the flexible circuit board 90, the electrode plate 110, and the contact plate 130 are shown in FIG. Installed in molds 300, 310. At that time, the surface of the electrode plate 110 and the surface of the portion provided with the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 of the flexible circuit board 90 are brought into contact with the mold surfaces 301 and 303 provided in the first mold 300, respectively. In the state, in the cavity C1 formed around the electrode plate 110 and the flexible circuit board 90 of the first and second molds 300 and 310, the second mold 310 side (that is, the sliding pattern 91 of the flexible circuit board 90). , 93, etc., on the opposite surface side), a melt-molded resin is press-fitted from a resin injection port P1 provided in the cavity C1 to fill the cavity C1. Then, the first and second molds 300 and 310 are removed after the melt molding resin is cured. Accordingly, the surface of the electrode plate 110 and the surface of the flexible circuit board 90 provided with the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 shown in FIG. 3 are respectively formed on the bottom surface of the push button switch housing portion 51 and the bottom surface of the rotating body housing portion 71. A case 50 in which the electrode plate 110 and the flexible circuit board 90 are insert-molded in a state of being exposed with a step is completed. Each contact plate contact portion 95 of the flexible circuit board 90 is pressed against each contact plate 130 from the back surface side by the press-fitting pressure of the molten molding resin, so that they are securely connected. 3 and 4 are formed by pins that project the respective contact plates 130 from the first mold 300 side and have their tips in contact with and support the respective contact plates 130. . 5 is a portion on the lead frame side that is cut after the case 50 is molded. Although not shown, a portion on the lead frame side that is cut after the case 50 is formed is also attached to the portion continuous to the tip of the mounting surface 133 of the contact plate 130 when the case 50 is formed. Further, 63 shown in FIG. 2 is a pin gate remaining, and 65 is formed by a pin that protrudes from the second mold 310 side and a tip of which contacts the flexible circuit board 90 and clamps the flexible circuit board 90 together with the first mold 300. Is.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 150 and the slider 170 insert-molded on the rotating body 150 separately. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the rotating body 150 is made of a synthetic resin in which a slider 170 is insert-molded, and the side wall of the rotating body storage section 71 of the case 50 on the push button switch storage section 51 side. The inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153 that are guided by the side surface 53a of the outer peripheral side wall 73 and the side surface 73a of the outer peripheral side wall 73 that faces the side surface 53a and move in an arc shape, and these at the intermediate portion thereof A connecting portion 155 to be connected and a lever 157 that protrudes radially outward from the intermediate portion of the outer guide portion 153 (the side that does not face the inner guide portion 151) are provided. In other words, the side surface 53a is a side surface of the rotating body storage portion 71 that is closer to the rotation center axis L1 of the rotating body 150 described below, and the side surface 73a is a side surface that is far from the rotation center axis L1. You can also. The length of the outer guide portion 153 is longer in both the left and right directions than the inner guide portion 151, and the length is equal to the width (length) of the arc-shaped lever insertion portion 75 provided in the case 50. Is longer than the total length of the left and right pivots. Further, at the position of the inner guide portion 151 facing the bullet portion insertion portion 67, the bullet portion insertion engagement portion formed by an arc-shaped concave portion cut out to the same position as the position of the bottom surface of the bullet portion insertion portion 67. 159 is provided. The rotating body 150 is formed in a symmetrical shape in the rotational direction with respect to an axis line connecting the lever 157 and the rotational center axis L1 (perpendicular to the rotational center axis L1). Is also good). Moreover, the inner side guide part 151, the outer side guide part 153, and the slider 170 are arrange | positioned on three different circular arcs which have the same rotation center axis L1.

  The slider 170 protrudes in the rotational direction of the rotating body 170 from a base portion 171 installed in the connecting portion 155 and a gap between the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153 on both sides of the base portion 171. And a pair of sliding booklets 173 having an arc shape. That is, the slider 170 is formed of a substantially arc-shaped elastic metal plate, and has a base 171 at the center and a sliding booklet 173 at both sides. A through-hole 175 is provided in the center of the base 171 to ensure attachment between the rotating body 150 and the slider 170 through molding resin. In this embodiment, the material of the slider 170 is a silver-plated phosphor bronze plate, but other materials may be used.

  The movable contact plate 190 is made of an elastic metal plate, and includes a circular dome-shaped second contact plate portion 191 and a circular ring-shaped first contact plate portion 193 that surrounds the outer periphery of the second contact plate portion 191 with a gap therebetween. A pair of connecting portions 195 for connecting the outer peripheral edge of the second contact plate portion 191 and the inner peripheral edge of the first contact plate portion 193 on a diameter line passing through the center of the second contact plate portion 191; A rectangular guide portion 197 protrudes from a position facing the pair of connecting portions 195 on the outer peripheral edge of the one contact plate portion 193. As described above, the second contact plate portion 191 has a dome shape convex upward, but the first contact plate portion 193 also has a circular dome shape in which the entire circumference is inclined upward from the outer peripheral edge toward the inner peripheral edge. It is formed in the shape of a part of the outer periphery. In addition, a pair of bent portions that are curved and deformed so as to protrude upward are provided at positions rotated by 90 ° from the portion where the connecting portions 195 of the first contact plate portion 193 are connected, and the bent portions are provided. The part is a support part 199. The pair of connecting portions 195 is also inclined upward from the first contact plate portion 193 toward the second contact plate portion 191. In this embodiment, the movable contact plate 190 is made of silver-plated stainless steel plate, but various other materials may be used.

  The dustproof sheet 210 is a substantially circular sheet having flexibility, and has an outer diameter dimension larger than an inner diameter dimension of an opening 235 of the cover 230 described below. In this embodiment, the material of the dustproof sheet 210 is a rubber material, but other various materials such as a synthetic resin film may be used.

  The torsion coil spring 240 includes a coil portion 243 formed by winding an elastic metal wire in a ring shape, and a pair of elastic portions 241 formed by projecting both ends of the coil portion 243 outward in the radial direction. . The coil portion 243 is formed in a size and shape that is inserted into the spring accommodating portion 52 of the case 50.

  The cover 230 is made of a flat metal plate and has a cover body portion 231 having an outer shape and covering the case 50, and protrudes downward from a plurality of locations (four locations in this embodiment) on the outer periphery of the cover body portion 231. And a case engaging portion 233 that is bent at a right angle. The case engaging portion 233 is provided at a position facing each engaging portion 77 of the case 50. The cover main body 231 is provided with an opening 235 made of a circular through hole. The case engaging portion 233 is configured by providing an opening 237 penetrating in a rectangular shape inside a tongue-like (rectangular) protruding piece. In this embodiment, the cover 230 is made of a stainless steel plate, but other metal plates or other various materials may be used.

  Next, a method for assembling the rotary electronic component 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. That is, to assemble the rotary electronic component 1, the movable contact plate 190 is accommodated in the push button switch accommodating portion 51 of the case 50, and at this time, the pair of support portions 199 of the movable contact plate 190 are mounted on the pair of contact plates of the case 50. At the same time, the guide portion 197 of the movable contact plate 190 is inserted into the guide groove 57 of the case 50. As a result, the movable contact plate 190 is positioned above the electrode plate 110 without contacting the electrode plate 110. On the other hand, the rotating body 150 to which the slider 170 is attached is stored in the rotating body storage portion 71 of the case 50. At that time, both sliding booklets 173 of the slider 170 are elastically contacted with the pair of sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 of the flexible circuit board 90, respectively. Then, the dustproof sheet 210 is placed in the dustproof sheet storage part 59 on the movable contact plate 190, and then the coil part 243 of the torsion coil spring 240 is stored in the spring storage part 52 of the case 50. At this time, the resilient portions 241 and 241 of the torsion coil spring 240 are simultaneously in contact with both ends of the resilient portion insertion portion 67 and the resilient portion insertion engagement portion 159, and the rotating body 150 is located at the neutral position. . Then, the cover 230 is placed thereon, and the case engaging portion 233 of the cover 230 is attached to the engaging portion 77 of the case 50 by snap-in engagement, whereby the rotary electronic component 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is completed.

  In the rotary electronic component 1, the central portion of the opening 235 of the cover 230 serves as a pressed portion A in which a key top pressing portion (not shown) is arranged and presses the center of the movable contact plate 190. The movable contact plate 190 and the electrode plate 110 constitute a push button switch (two-stage push button switch) 10. Further, the slider 170 and the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 constitute an electric function part, and the rotary electronic component part 30 is constituted by the rotating body 150, the slider 170 and the flexible circuit board 90.

  In the rotary electronic component 1, the mounting surfaces 113 and 133 of the rotary electronic component 1 are attached to terminal patterns provided on a circuit board (not shown), for example, by soldering. Further, for example, a key top (not shown) is installed on the pressed portion A so as to be movable up and down, and a locking portion protruding from a lower part of a ring-shaped rotary knob (not shown) surrounding the key top is provided on the lever 157. By engaging, the lever 157 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary knob.

  Next, the operation of the rotary electronic component 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover 230 and the dustproof sheet 210 are removed from the rotary electronic component 1 and the movable contact plate 190 is disassembled. First, for example, when the upper surface center of the second contact plate portion 191 of the movable contact plate 190 is pressed from above the dustproof sheet 210 by pressing a key top (not shown) installed on the pressed portion A shown in FIG. First, the first contact plate portion 193 is reversed with a weak click feeling and the inner periphery thereof is lowered from the outer periphery, whereby the inner periphery of the first contact plate portion 193 (particularly near the connection portion with the connecting portion 195). Simultaneously abuts on the left and right electrode plates 110 to conduct (turn on) between the two. When the center of the upper surface of the second contact plate portion 191 is further pressed, the second contact plate portion 191 is reversed with a click sensation, the center of the lower surface is in contact with the center electrode plate 110, and the three electrode plates 110 are simultaneously conducted ( ON). When the pressing to the center of the second contact plate portion 191 is released, the central electrode plate 110 is first turned off by the reverse operation to the above, and then the space between the left and right electrode plates 110 is turned off.

  On the other hand, when a rotary knob (not shown) that is locked to the lever 157 and rotates integrally with the lever 157 as described above is rotated, the rotary body 150 and the slider 170 attached thereto rotate together with the rotary knob from its neutral position. Then, a pair of sliding booklets 173 (specifically, elastic contact portions projecting downward in the vicinity of the front end portion) of the slider 170 slide on the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93, so The electrical output between the contact plates 130 (change in resistance value in this embodiment) changes. At this time, the rotation center axis L1 of the rotator 150 is located at a position outside the rotator housing 71 (specifically, the center position of the push button switch housing 51). The rotating body 150 can be smoothly rotated in an arc shape by the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153 being guided by the side surfaces 53a and 73a of the rotating body storage portion 71 of the case 50. When the rotating body 150 is moved in one direction from the neutral position, one bullet portion 241 is moved by one end of the bullet portion insertion engagement portion 159, and the other bullet portion 241 is a bullet portion. It remains elastically in contact with the other end of the insertion portion 67, whereby the torsion coil spring 240 is twisted to generate an automatic return force to the neutral position. In this embodiment, since the length of the outer guide portion 153 of the rotating body 150 is long as described above, even when the rotating body 150 is rotated left and right, the lever insertion portion 75 of the case 50 is always provided. This prevents the dust from entering from the lever insertion portion 75 with certainty.

  As described above, the rotary electronic component 1 includes the case 50 having the arcuate rotating body storage portion 71 and the rotation center stored in the rotating body storage portion 71 and positioned outside the rotating body storage portion 71. A rotating body 150 that rotates about the axis L1, and an electrical function section (slider 170 and sliding contact patterns 91, 93) that changes its electrical output as the rotating body 150 rotates, The rotator 150 is guided and moved by a side surface 53a near the rotation center axis L1 and a side surface 73a far from the rotation center axis L1 of the rotator housing 71, respectively, and an inner guide portion 151 and an outer guide portion 153 that move. It is comprised. That is, the rotating body storage portion 71 provided in the case 50 has an arc shape and does not surround the entire circumference of the rotation center axis L1, and accordingly, the outer shape of the case 50 is reduced, that is, the outer shape of the rotary electronic component 1 is reduced. Can be achieved. Further, since the rotating body 150 is guided by the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153, the rotating body 150 can smoothly move in the rotation direction even in the arc-shaped rotating body storage portion 71.

  In addition, the electrical function unit includes sliding contact patterns 91 and 93 installed in the rotating body storage unit 71 of the case 50 and a slider 170 installed on the rotating body 150 and sliding on the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93. It comprises. As a result, it is possible to configure an electrical functional portion having a structure in which the slider 170 is in sliding contact with the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93.

  The rotating body 150 is configured by connecting the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153 by a connecting portion 155, and the slider 170 is provided between the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153 from the connecting portion 155. A configuration protruding in the gap is disclosed. As a result, the slider 170 is protected by the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153, so that deformation and destruction of the slider 170 can be prevented. Further, since the slider 170 is installed in an empty space between the inner guide portion 151 and the outer guide portion 153, it is not necessary to provide a separate space for installing the slider 170, and the size can be reduced.

  The coil portion 243 includes a torsion coil spring 240 having a resilient portion 241 projecting radially outward from both ends of the coil portion 243, and the coil portion 243 of the torsion coil spring 240 is attached to the case 50. The rotary body 150 is installed in a portion on the rotation center axis L1 side outside the rotary body storage portion 71, and the elastic portion 241 is inserted into the rotary body storage portion 71 and engaged with the rotary body 150. It is disclosed that an automatic return mechanism is configured. As a result, an automatic return mechanism for the rotator 150 can be installed by effectively using the inner part (rotation center axis L1 side) portion of the case 50 (in the case of this embodiment, the push button switch storage part 51). The automatic returning function can be easily given to the rotating body 150 without increasing the size of the rotary electronic component 1.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another rotary electronic component 1-2 of the present invention. In the rotary electronic component 1-2 shown in the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those of the rotary electronic component 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Note that matters other than those described below are the same as those of the rotary electronic component 1 shown in FIGS. The difference between the rotary electronic component 1-2 and the rotary electronic component 1 is that the lever 157 of the rotating body 150 protrudes radially outward from the outer periphery thereof like the rotary electronic component 1. Instead, a lever 157B that protrudes in a columnar shape is provided on the upper surface side of the rotating body 150 (in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis L1 of the rotating body 150 and away from the flexible circuit board 90). A knob insertion hole 239 that penetrates in a circular arc shape over the rotation range of the lever 157B is formed at a position facing the lever 157B. Although not shown, the lever insertion portion 75 of the case 50 that is no longer necessary is covered with an outer peripheral side wall 73. If the rotary electronic component 1-2 is configured in this manner, the lever 157B can be operated from the upper surface side of the rotary electronic component 1-2, and the installation area of the rotary electronic component 1-2 can be reduced.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible. It should be noted that any shape, structure, and material not directly described in the specification and drawings are within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and advantages of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the push button switch 10 is provided in addition to the rotary electronic component unit 30. However, in the present invention, the push button switch 10 is not always necessary, and the rotary electronic component unit 30 alone may constitute the rotary electronic component. good. In addition, the rotary electronic component 1 of the above embodiment is a rotary variable resistor whose resistance value changes with the rotation of the rotating body 150, but is configured with a rotary switch whose on / off state changes with the rotation of the rotating body 150. You may do it. The structure of the pushbutton switch 10 may be a two-stage switch having various structures other than those shown in the above embodiment, or may be a single-stage switch or a switch having three or more stages. Various functional parts other than the push button switch and other various parts may be installed. In the above embodiment, the flexible circuit board 90 is used as the circuit board. However, a hard circuit board may be used, and the surface of the metal plate is exposed in the rotating body housing portion 71 of the case 50 and is slid. It may be a contact pattern. Further, the electrical function part may be an electrical function part made of various members other than the electrical function part made of the slider 170 and the sliding contact patterns 91 and 93.

It is the perspective view which looked at the rotary electronic component 1 from the upper side. It is the perspective view which looked at the rotary electronic component 1 from the lower side. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary electronic component 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which isolate | separates the case 50, the flexible circuit board 90, the electrode plate 110, and the contact plate 130, and shows each separately. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an insert molding process of the flexible circuit board 90 and the like into the case 50. It is the perspective view which isolate | separated and showed the rotary body 150 and the slider 170. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the cover 230 and the dustproof sheet 210 are removed from the rotary electronic component 1 and the movable contact plate 190 is disassembled. It is a perspective view of the rotary electronic component 1-2.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rotating electronic components (Rotating electronic components with pressing electronic components)
10 Pushbutton switch (other electronic components)
30 Rotary electronic component 50 Case 51 Push button switch storage (other components storage)
52 Spring storage portion 53 Side wall 53a Side surface 71 Rotating body storage portion 73 Outer peripheral side wall 73a Side surface 90 Flexible circuit board (circuit board)
91,93 Sliding contact pattern (electrical function part)
110 Electrode plate 130 Contact plate 150 Rotating body 151 Inner guide portion 153 Outer guide portion 155 Connecting portion 170 Slider (electrical function portion)
190 Movable contact plate 210 Dustproof sheet 230 Cover 240 Torsion coil spring (automatic return mechanism)
241 Bulleting part 243 Coil part L1 Center of rotation

Claims (4)

A case having an arcuate rotating body storage;
A rotating body that is housed in the rotating body housing portion and rotates about a rotation center axis located outside the rotating body housing portion;
An electrical function unit that changes its electrical output by rotating the rotating body,
The rotating body includes an inner guide portion and an outer guide portion that are guided and moved by a side surface near the rotation center axis of the rotating body storage portion and a side surface far from the rotation center axis, respectively. A rotary electronic component characterized by being configured.   The electrical functional unit is configured to include a sliding contact pattern installed in the rotating body storage portion of the case, and a slider installed on the rotating body and sliding on the sliding contact pattern. The rotary electronic component according to claim 1. The rotating body is configured by connecting the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion by a connecting portion,
The rotary electronic component according to claim 2, wherein the slider protrudes from the coupling portion into a gap between the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion. Comprising a torsion coil spring comprising a coil part and a resilient part projecting radially outward from both ends of the coil part;
The coil portion of the torsion coil spring is installed in a portion of the case on the rotation center axis side outside the rotating body housing portion, and the elastic portion is inserted into the rotating body housing portion and engaged with the rotating body. The rotary electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an automatic return mechanism for the rotary body is configured.

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