JP2008098008A - Seesaw switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new seesaw switch which achieves a high-quality switch operation by a simple structure having a small number of components. <P>SOLUTION: A plate-like cam member 120 being a pressing force transmission member is interposed between a seesaw button member 110 and a rubber switch member 140. When an operator applies pressing force to a button pressing part 113, the seesaw button member 110 carries out rotary motion by using a second shaft AX2 as a rotational center axis, and the motion acts on a contact part 122a of the plate-like cam member 120 through a pressing part 114a of the seesaw button member 110 always contacting the plate-like cam member 120. As a result, the plate-like cam member 120 carries out rotary motion by using a first shaft AX1 as a rotational center axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seesaw switch.

  Seesaw switches are installed in various devices and are widely used (see Patent Document 1). Such a seesaw switch is generally composed of a seesaw button member, a rubber switch member disposed on a substrate surface on which a conductor pattern is formed, and the like. In such a conventional seesaw switch, when the operator depresses the button pressing portion of the seesaw button member, the seesaw button performs a seesaw motion, and the conductive terminal of the rubber switch member normally separated from the conductor pattern on the board is connected to the seesaw switch. The button member is pressed to press the conductive terminal against the conductor pattern.

  When the seesaw switch configured as described above has a low part height of a seesaw button member, the seesaw switch can realize a good operational feeling without adversely affecting the design design of the device. However, when the part height of the seesaw button member is increased in relation to the equipment case, the following problems occur corresponding to the position of the rotation center axis of the seesaw motion of the seesaw button member.

  That is, as in the seesaw switch 700 shown in FIG. 1A, when the rotation center axis AXA of the seesaw button member 710 is set near the height of the surrounding case 760, as shown in FIG. In addition, since the clearance for the seesaw button member 710 to perform the seesaw motion can be reduced according to the pressing force from the outside, the design design of the device is not adversely affected. However, since the angle formed between the pressing direction of the rubber switch member 740 by the seesaw button member 710 and the vertical direction of the surface of the substrate 750 becomes large, a good operational feeling cannot be obtained. Further, when the angle is increased, the contact state between the conductive terminal of the rubber switch member 740 and the conductive pattern of the substrate 750 may be deteriorated, resulting in a problem of poor conduction.

  Further, as in the seesaw switch 800 shown in FIG. 2A, the rotation center axis AXB of the seesaw button member 810 is close to the rubber switch member 840 (configured in the same manner as the rubber switch member 740). 2B, the angle formed between the pressing direction of the rubber switch member 840 by the seesaw button member 810 and the vertical direction of the surface of the substrate 850 (configured in the same manner as the substrate 750 described above). Can be reduced, so that a good operational feeling can be obtained. However, since it is necessary to increase the clearance for the seesaw button member 810 to perform seesaw motion in accordance with the external pressing force in the opening formed in the case 860, it adversely affects the design design of the device. Become.

  As a seesaw switch that can solve such a problem, the seesaw button member 910 has a rotation center axis AXC near the height of the surrounding case 960 as in the seesaw switch 900 shown in FIG. There has been proposed one in which a plurality of pin-shaped cams 920 that are pressing force conducting members are interposed between a pressing portion 910 and a rubber switch member 940 (Patent Document 2: hereinafter referred to as “conventional example”). In this conventional seesaw switch 900, as shown in FIG. 3B, as in the case of the seesaw switch 700 described above, the clearance for the seesaw button member 910 to perform seesaw motion according to the pressing force from the outside. Can be made smaller and will not adversely affect the design design of the device. In the seesaw switch 900, the rubber switch member 940 (configured in the same manner as the rubber switch member 740) is pressed via the cam member 920, and the conductive portion is configured in the substrate 950 (configured in the same manner as the substrate 750 described above). A good operational feeling can be obtained.

  Note that in the seesaw switch 900, hitting due to a collision caused by the return operation of the seesaw button member 910 and the cam member 920, which occurs in response to the return operation of the seesaw button member 910 when the pressing of the seesaw button member 910 is completed. In order not to generate a sound, the cam member 920 is devised to use an elastic material as a contact portion with the seesaw button member 910.

JP 2000-353454 A JP 2005-285443 A

  In the conventional seesaw switch 900 described above, a plurality of pin-shaped cam members 920 are required for the seesaw switch. For this reason, the number of parts becomes very large, and productivity is greatly impaired. For this reason, there is a need for a seesaw switch technology that can realize a high-quality operation feeling without adversely affecting the design design of the device and can reduce the number of parts. Satisfying these requirements is one of the problems to be solved by the present invention.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a new seesaw switch capable of realizing high-quality switch operation while maintaining high reliability with a simple configuration with a small number of parts. The purpose is to do.

  The invention according to claim 1 is formed on the surface of the substrate when a pressing force is applied along a first direction which is a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and is directed to the surface of the substrate. A switch member in contact with the conductive pattern and having flexible first conductive terminals and second conductive terminals that are spaced apart from the conductive pattern when the pressing force is not applied, and are arranged substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate; Set on a line segment on the side where the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are installed, passing through the midpoint of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal and parallel to the first direction; A first axis parallel to a surface of the substrate and parallel to a second direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal, and rotatable about the first axis. When a first biasing force having a component in one direction is applied, When the acting position of the first urging force is closer to the first conductive terminal than the first shaft, the first urging force is pressed along the first direction and the first urging force is applied. A plate-like cam member that presses the second conductive terminal along the first direction when the operating position is closer to the second conductive terminal than the first shaft; When a second biasing force that is set on the opposite side of the first direction and is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis as a rotation center axis and having a component in the first direction is applied When the position where the second urging force is applied is closer to the first conductive terminal than the second axis, the plate-like cam portion is moved to the position closer to the first conductive terminal than the first axis. And when the second biasing force is on the second conductive terminal side of the second shaft. A seesaw button member that urges the plate-shaped cam portion at a position of the second conductive terminal side of the first shaft; a seesaw switch, characterized in that it comprises a.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[Constitution]
The seesaw switch 100 in the present embodiment is configured by combining the seesaw button member 110, the plate-like cam member 120, the holder member 130, and the rubber switch member 140 shown in FIG. The structure housed in the case 160 after such combination is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, FIG. 5 is a YZ sectional view of the seesaw switch 100, and FIG. 6 is an XZ sectional view of the seesaw switch 100. The XYZ coordinate system in FIGS. 4 to 6 (the same applies to FIG. 7 described later) is defined as shown.

  The seesaw button member 110, the plate cam member 120, and the holder member 130 are each formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin material. As the synthetic resin material, general polyethylene and polyurethane are used, and engineering plastics considering high strength and high durability can be used. The seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam member 120 are made of materials having different melting temperatures.

  As comprehensively shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the case 160 is formed with a recessed portion 161 that is recessed from the surface at a predetermined position, and the seesaw button member 110, the plate-like cam member 120, and the holder member are formed in the recessed portion 161. 130 is inserted. A rubber switch member 140 and a substrate 150 are disposed on the back surface of the case 160. The recess 161 has button bearings 162a and 162b for rotatably holding a rotation center axis AX2 of a seesaw button member 110 described later.

  Next, the structures of the seesaw button member 110, the plate-like cam member 120, the holder member 130, the rubber switch member 140, and the substrate 150 will be described in detail.

<Structure of Seesaw Button Member 110>
First, the structure of the seesaw button member 110 will be described. As shown generally in FIGS. 4 to 6, the seesaw button member 110 has a hollow, substantially rectangular cubic shape.

  The seesaw button member 110 has a substantially rectangular top plate 111 in an XY plan view. The seesaw button member 110 includes a wall 112a extending from the −Y direction end of the top plate 111 along the −Z direction, and a wall 112b extending from the + Y direction end of the top plate 111 along the −Z direction. have. The seesaw button member 110 includes a side wall 112c extending along the −Z direction from the −X direction side end of the top plate 111 and a side wall 112d extending along the −Z direction from the + X direction end of the top plate 111. Have. The walls 112 a and 112 b and the side walls 112 c and 112 d are connected to each other at adjacent ends to form a peripheral wall along the peripheral edge of the top plate 111.

  The top plate 111 is exposed from the case 160. The surface of the top plate 111 has a button pressing portion 113a on the −Y direction side and a button pressing portion 113b on the + Y direction side. When the operator presses one of the button pressing portions 113a and 113b, an external switch operation is possible.

  The −Z direction end of the wall 112a has a linear protrusion shape along the X-axis direction, and this portion serves as a pressing portion 114a that comes into contact with a contact portion 122a described later of the plate-like cam member 120. Yes. Similarly, the −Z direction end portion of the wall 112b is also formed in a linear protrusion shape along the X-axis direction, and this portion is in contact with a later-described abutting portion 122b of the plate-like cam member 120. It has become.

  Further, support pins 115a and 115b extending along the X-axis direction project from substantially the center portions of the outer surfaces of the side walls 112c and 112d, respectively. A straight line connecting the support pin 115a and the support pin 115b becomes a rotation center axis AX2 of the seesaw button member 110 as a second axis (see FIG. 6: hereinafter, also referred to as “second axis AX2”). ing.

  The support pins 115 a and 115 b can be fitted by button bearing portions 135 a and 135 b (described later) of the holder member 130 and button bearing portions 162 a and 162 b of the case 160. The support pin 115a is fitted into the gap between the button bearing portion 135a and the button bearing portion 162a, and the support pin 115b is fitted into the gap between the button bearing portion 135b and the button bearing portion 162b, whereby the seesaw button member 110 is moved to the second shaft. The seesaw button member 110 is held by the holder member 130 and the case 160 so as to be rotatable about the rotation center axis.

<Structure of plate-like cam member 120>
Next, the structure of the plate cam member 120 will be described. The plate-like cam member 120 has a substantially rectangular frame shape in the XY plan view, as comprehensively shown in FIGS. The plate-like cam member 120 has a frame 121a that constitutes the -Y direction side portion and a frame 121b that constitutes the + Y direction side portion. Further, the plate-like cam member 120 has a frame 121c constituting the −X direction side portion and a frame 121d constituting the + X direction side portion.

  Here, both the + Z direction side and the −Z direction side of the frame 121a are flat, the + Z direction side is a contact portion 122a that contacts the pressing portion 114a of the seesaw button member 110, and the −Z direction side lower side is a rubber switch. A pressing portion 123 a that presses the first conductive terminal 141 a of the member 140 is formed. Similarly, both the + Z direction side and the −Z direction side of the frame 121b are flat, the + Z direction side is a contact portion 122b that contacts the pressing portion 114b of the seesaw button member 110, and the −Z direction side is a rubber switch member. The pressing portion 123b presses the 140 second conductive terminals 141b.

  A support hole 124a is formed at the center of the frame 121c, and a support hole 124b is formed at the center of the frame 121d (see FIG. 4). A straight line connecting the support hole 124a and the support hole 124b is a rotation center axis AX1 (hereinafter also referred to as “first axis AX1”) of the plate-like cam member 120.

  Each of the support holes 124 a and 124 b can be fitted to each of support pins 134 a and 134 b described later of the holder member 130. Then, the support pin 134a is fitted into the support hole 124a, and the support pin 134b is fitted into the support hole 124b, so that the plate-like cam member 120 can rotate about the first axis as the rotation center axis. The cam member 120 is held by the holder member 130.

  The plate-like cam member 120 is deformed so that both end portions in the Y-axis direction are slightly shifted in the −Z direction after the seesaw switch 110 is assembled. For this reason, as will be described later, even if the seesaw button member 110 is rotated by a pressing operation for switching, the seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam member 120 are always in contact with each other. Yes.

<Structure of holder member 130>
Next, the structure of the holder member 130 will be described. The holder member 130 is obtained by deforming a hollow, substantially rectangular cubic shape, as comprehensively shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

  The holder member 130 has a substantially rectangular bottom plate 131 that contacts the + Z direction side surface of the rubber switch member 140. Further, the holder member 130 has a wall 132 a extending in the + Z direction from the −Y direction end of the bottom plate 131 and 132 b extending in the + Z direction from the + Y direction end of the bottom plate 131. Further, the holder member 130 has a wall 132c extending in the + Z direction from the −X direction intermediate portion of the bottom plate 131, and 132d extending in the + Z direction from the + X direction intermediate portion of the bottom plate 131. The walls 132 a and 132 b and the side walls 132 c and 132 d are connected to each other at their adjacent ends to form a peripheral wall along the peripheral edge of the bottom plate 131.

  Furthermore, the holder member 130 has a side wall 133 a extending in the + Z direction from the −X direction end of the bottom plate 131 and a 133 b extending in the + Z direction from the + X direction end of the bottom plate 131.

  The side walls 132c and 132d are for holding the plate-like cam member 120 so as to be rotatable about the first axis as a rotation center axis. The side surfaces 132c and 132d have a plate-like shape on the outer surface along the X-axis direction. Support pins 134a and 134b extending along the X-axis direction serving as the rotation center axis AX1 of the cam member 120 are provided so as to project.

  The side walls 133a and 133b are for holding the seesaw button member 110 so that the seesaw button member 110 can be rotated about the second axis as a rotation center axis, and the + Z direction ends of the side walls 133a and 133b are the bearings of the seesaw button member 110. It is part 135a, 135b.

<Structure of rubber switch member 140>
Next, the structure of the rubber switch member 140 will be described. 4 to 6, the rubber switch member 140 is mounted on the back side of the holder member 130 and faces switch terminals 151a and 151b described later disposed on the substrate 50. In addition, a flexible first conductive terminal 141a and a second conductive terminal 141b are provided. As a material of the rubber switch member 140, for example, a rubber member such as silicon rubber is used and formed by molding.

  The first axis AX1 described above passes through the vicinity of the midpoint of the first conductive terminal 141a and the second conductive terminal 141b in the Y-axis direction.

<Structure of substrate 150>
Next, the structure of the substrate 150 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the board 150 is a printed board mounted on the back side of the rubber switch member 140, and various electronic elements (including switch terminals 151 a and 151 b) are provided on the + Z direction side surface. (Not shown) is installed. Each of the switch terminals 151a and 151b is formed as a printed pattern formed on the surface of the printed circuit board (there may be the front surface, the back surface, and the substrate layer in some cases).

  The switch terminals 151 a and 151 b are brought into contact with or separated from the first conductive terminal 141 a and the second conductive terminal 141 b by the switch operation of the seesaw button member 110. That is, the switch terminal 151a is disposed on the −Z direction side of the first conductive terminal 141a, and the switch terminal 151b is disposed on the −Z direction side of the second conductive terminal 141b.

[Operation]
Next, the switch operation by the seesaw switch 100 configured as described above will be described.

First, in a state where the seesaw button member 110 has not been operated, the seesaw button member 110 is held in a neutral position as shown in FIG. In this state, each of the pressing portions 114 a and 114 b of the seesaw button member 110 does not urge the plate-like cam member 120. As a result, the first conductive terminal 141a or the second conductive terminal 141b of the rubber switch member 140 is not pressed by the plate-like cam member 120, so the first conductive terminal 141a or the second conductive terminal 141b and the switch of the substrate 150 are switched. It is separated from the terminal 151a or the terminal 151b. That is, the switch is turned off.

  From this state, when the operator presses the button pressing portion 113a of the seesaw button member 110 to rotate the seesaw button member 110, the seesaw button member 110 rotates about the second axis AX2. By the turning operation of the seesaw button member 110, the pressing portion 114a of the seesaw button member 110 biases the contact portion 122a of the plate-like cam member 120 in the −Z direction.

  The plate-like cam member 120 rotates about the first axis AX1 by the urging of the pressing portion 114a against the contact portion 122a. By the rotation of the plate-like cam member 120, the pressing portion 123a of the plate-like cam member 120 presses the first conductive terminal 141a of the rubber switch member 140 in the -Z direction. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the first conductive terminal 141 a of the rubber switch member 140 is pushed in a direction in contact with the switch terminal 151 a on the substrate 150, and the switch element 151 a on the substrate 150 comes into contact. That is, the switch terminal 151a is switched on.

  The rotation of the seesaw button member 110 is performed with the second axis AX2 passing through the height of the surrounding case 160 as a rotation center axis that is substantially parallel to the X axis. For this reason, the clearance for the rotational movement of the seesaw button member 110 can be reduced. For this reason, it can prevent having a bad influence on the design design of an apparatus provided with case 160. FIG.

  Further, the rotation of the plate-like cam member 120 is performed with the first axis AX1 passing through the vicinity of the midpoint of the first conductive terminal 141a and the second conductive terminal 141b in the Y-axis direction as the rotation center axis. For this reason, the pressing portion 123a of the plate-like cam member 120 presses the first conductive terminal 141a of the rubber switch member 140 substantially in the −Z direction throughout the pressing operation period for the button pressing portion 113a of the seesaw button member 110 by the operator. Will continue. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly reliable seesaw switch that gives a good operational feeling to the operator and does not have poor conduction.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, since the positions of the rotation center axes of the seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam member 120 are different, both members accompanying the pressing operation on the seesaw button member 110 are used. Of course, the orbit will be different. For this reason, the two parts do not rotate integrally with each other, and the on-plate cam member 120 slides while contacting the pressing portions 114a and 114b of the seesaw button member 110. .

  Further, as described above, the plate-like cam member 120 is deformed such that both end sides in the Y-axis direction are slightly shifted in the −Z direction. For this reason, even if the seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam member 120 rotate on different tracks, the seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam portion 120 come into contact with each other due to the restoring force against the deformation of the plate-like cam member 120. Is maintained.

  Subsequently, when the operation is released from the pressing operation state on the seesaw button member 110 illustrated in FIG. 7B, the elements 110 to 130 return to the posture illustrated in FIG. Since the contact between the seesaw button member 110 and the plate-like cam portion 120 is maintained even after such a return, both parts cause an unpleasant impact sound between the plate-like cam member 120 and the pressing portion 114b of the seesaw button member 110. Even if it is a material having high hardness such as plastic resin, it does not occur. Note that, when the seesaw button is returned to the neutral position, the plate-like cam member 120 and the rubber switch member 140 collide, but since the rubber switch member 140 is formed of a rubber member, almost no impact sound is generated.

  Further, in the structure of the seesaw switch 100 according to the present embodiment, when the switch is repeatedly opened and closed, friction and wear due to rubbing between the plastics occur. However, as described above, the plate cam member 120 and the seesaw button member 110 Since plastic materials having different melting temperatures are used, the occurrence of adhesion due to friction and wear is suppressed between the two members. In order to suppress friction and wear, a plastic having a low coefficient of friction such as POM (polyoxymethylene) may be used for one of the plate cam member 120 and the seesaw button member 110.

  Note that the action of the operator pressing the button pressing part 113b of the seesaw button member 110 is the same as the action when the button pressing part 113a described above is pressed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the second axis AX2, which is the rotation center axis of the seesaw button member 110, is set near the height of the case 160 in the periphery, and the rotation motion of the seesaw button member 110 is determined by the rubber. The first conductive terminal is converted into a rotational motion of the plate-like cam member 120 with the first axis AX1 passing through the vicinity of the midpoint between the first conductive terminal 141a and the second conductive terminal 141b of the switch member 140 as the rotation center axis. 141a and the second conductive terminal 141b are pressed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a highly reliable seesaw switch having a simple structure with a small number of parts, high-quality operation feeling without adversely affecting the design design of the device, and no continuity failure. Can be provided.

[Modification of Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the pressing portions 114a and 114b of the seesaw button member 110 with respect to the plate-like cam member 120 are linear, but may be a bar-like shape such as a round bar or a square bar.

  In addition, the first axis is set to be parallel to the X axis and near the center of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal. A condition that is set on the line segment on the side where the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are installed parallel to the Z axis and that is set on the −Z direction side with respect to the second axis. As long as the above condition is satisfied, the first axis may be set at an arbitrary position for Z.

It is sectional drawing (the 1) which shows the structure of the conventional seesaw switch. It is sectional drawing (the 2) which shows the structure of the conventional seesaw switch. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the seesaw switch which is a prior art example. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the seesaw switch which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is YZ sectional drawing of the seesaw switch which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is XZ sectional drawing of the seesaw switch which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the seesaw switch which is one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Seesaw switch 110 ... Seesaw button member 120 ... Plate-shaped cam member 130 ... Holder member 140 ... Rubber switch member 141a ... First conductive terminal 141b ... Second conductive terminal 150 ... Substrate AX1 ... First axis AX2 ... Second axis

Claims (6)

When a pressing force is applied along a first direction that is a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and is directed to the surface of the substrate, the pressing force is in contact with the conductive pattern formed on the surface of the substrate. A switch member in which flexible first conductive terminals and second conductive terminals that are spaced apart from the conductive pattern when not added are arranged substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate;
It is set on a line segment on the side where the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are installed, passing through the midpoint between the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal and parallel to the first direction. The first axis parallel to the surface of the substrate and parallel to the second direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal is rotatable about the first axis. When a first biasing force having a directional component is applied, and the position of the first biasing force is closer to the first conductive terminal than the first shaft, the first conductive terminal is When pressing along the first direction and the position where the first biasing force is applied is closer to the second conductive terminal than the first shaft, the second conductive terminal is moved along the first direction. A plate-like cam member that presses and
A second attachment that is set on the opposite side of the first direction from the first axis, is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and has a component in the first direction. When an urging force is applied, if the applied position of the second urging force is on the first conductive terminal side with respect to the second axis, the position is on the first conductive terminal side with respect to the first axis. When the plate-like cam portion is urged and the position of the second urging force applied is closer to the second conductive terminal than the second shaft, the second conductive terminal is more than the first shaft. A seesaw button member for urging the plate-like cam portion at a side position;
Seesaw switch characterized by comprising.   A holder member for holding the plate cam member rotatably about the first axis as a rotation center axis, and holding the seesaw button member rotatably about the second axis as a rotation center axis; The seesaw switch according to claim 1.   The seesaw switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first shaft is set near a central portion of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal. The plate-like cam member is provided with a deformation that generates a restoring force to contact the seesaw button member,
Regardless of the presence or absence of the second urging force, the plate-like cam member and the seesaw button member are in contact with each other.
The seesaw switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The seesaw switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the constituent material of the plate-like cam member and the constituent material of the seesaw button member have different melting temperatures.   The seesaw switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a pressing portion of the seesaw button member that exerts the first urging force on the plate-like cam member is linear.

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