JP2008103543A - Rotary electric component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct a rotating operation and a depressing operation through an operating shaft, and to make it possible to illuminate the center of the operating shaft, using a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The rotary electric component comprises the operating shaft 7, having a light guide unit 71 in a shaft line direction, a housing for rotatably and axially movably holding the operating shaft 7, a rotation detecting means for detecting the rotation of the operating shaft 7, and a push switch for operating in response to the depressing operation of the operating shaft 7 in the shaft line direction. The push switch comprises an annular traveling contact 2 that elastically transforms, in response to the depressing operation of the operating shaft 7, and a base 1 with a translucent portion 11, arranged facing the light guide unit 71 via the through-hole 21 of the traveling contact 2 and with a first and a second fixed contact 13, 14 that become conductive state by the elastic transformation of the traveling contact 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary electrical component, and more particularly, to a rotary electrical component used for various controls of electronic devices and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, rotary electrical components that are used for various controls of electronic devices and the like have been proposed in which a rotary operation is received via an operation shaft and a pressing operation is received (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . In such a rotary electric component, an operation shaft configured to be rotatable is disposed in the central portion of the component, and a switch portion for detecting a pressing operation on the operation shaft is disposed in a lower region of the operation shaft. ing.
JP-A-10-64375

  However, the conventional rotary electric component as described above has a problem that the operation shaft and the switch portion are disposed in the central portion of the component, so that the center of the operation shaft cannot be illuminated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rotating electrical component that can receive a rotating operation and a pressing operation via an operation shaft and illuminate the center of the operation shaft. And

  The rotary electric component according to the present invention includes an operation shaft having a light guide portion in an axial direction, a housing that holds the operation shaft so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction, and a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the operation shaft. And a push switch that operates in response to a pressing operation in the axial direction of the operation shaft, and the push switch includes an annular movable contact that elastically deforms in response to a pressing operation on the operation shaft, and A translucent part disposed opposite to the light guide part through a through-hole, and a base having first and second fixed contacts that are rendered conductive by elastic deformation of the movable contact. Features.

  According to the rotating electrical component, the light guide portion formed on the operation shaft through the through hole of the movable contact and the light transmitting portion of the push switch are disposed so as to face each other. Since the light from the light source can be guided to the light guide portion by arranging the, it is possible to receive a rotation operation and a pressing operation through the operation shaft and to illuminate the center of the operation shaft.

  In the rotating electrical component, it is preferable that the base is formed from a synthetic resin having translucency, and the translucent portion is formed from the synthetic resin. In this case, since the translucent part provided on the base is made of translucent synthetic resin, it is possible to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the contact part of the push switch from the base side. It becomes. As a result, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the push switch and improve the reliability of the component itself.

  In the rotating electrical component, it is preferable that the housing includes a light shielding member that partially shields light from a light source disposed in the vicinity of the light transmitting portion. In this case, since the light from the light source is partially blocked by the light blocking member, it is possible to block unwanted light from the light source, and it is possible to uniformly illuminate only the necessary portion of the operation axis. It becomes.

  Furthermore, in the rotating electrical component, it is preferable that the base has a housing portion that can accommodate the light source, and the light shielding member has a wall portion that covers an outer periphery of the base. In this case, since the light source is housed in the housing portion and the outer periphery of the base is covered with the wall portion of the light shielding member, the light transmitting portion is installed while preventing unnecessary light from entering from the outer periphery of the base. Thus, light from the light source can be reliably guided to the light guide unit.

  For example, in the rotating electrical component, it is conceivable that the light guide portion is formed by a through hole and a light-transmitting sheet is disposed on the operation shaft side of the movable contact. In this case, since the light guide portion is formed of a through hole, attenuation of light from the light source can be reduced, and illumination with high brightness can be realized. In addition, since the light-transmitting sheet can prevent intrusion of dust and foreign matters, even when the light guide portion is formed with a through-hole, malfunction of the push switch can be prevented, and the reliability of the component itself is improved. It becomes possible.

  In the rotating electrical component, it is preferable that the rotation detecting unit is configured by a slider that rotates together with the operation shaft, and a conductive pattern that is in sliding contact with the slider. In this case, it is possible to reliably detect the rotation operation with respect to the operation shaft using the slider and the conductive pattern.

  According to the present invention, since the light guide portion formed on the operation shaft and the light transmitting portion of the push switch are disposed to face each other, the light from the light source disposed in the vicinity of the light transmitting portion is guided to the operation shaft. Since it can be guided to the light section, it is possible to receive a rotation operation and a pressing operation via the operation shaft and to illuminate the center of the operation shaft with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating electrical component according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view of the case of the rotating electrical component according to the present embodiment as viewed from the rear side of the rotating electrical component. In the following, the right side shown in FIG. 1 will be referred to as “rear side of the rotary electrical component” or simply “rear side”, and the left side shown in FIG. "Or simply" front side ".

  In FIG. 1, a base 1 constituting a part of a housing is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. In particular, the base 1 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin or the like so as to transmit light from a light source disposed in the vicinity of the rotary electrical component, and more preferably a transparent synthetic resin or the like. It is formed. A circular translucent portion 11 is formed at the center of the base 1, and a circular recess is provided around the translucent portion 11 and on the front surface of the rotary electrical component. 12 is formed.

  A first fixed contact 13 and a second fixed contact 14 are provided on the front surface of the recess 12. For example, the first fixed contact 13 and the second fixed contact 14 are insert-molded when the base 1 is molded. The first fixed contact 13 is provided in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the light transmitting portion 11, and the second fixed contact 14 is provided in the vicinity of the side wall surface of the recess 12. The first fixed contact 13 and the second fixed contact 14 and the movable contact 2 described later constitute a push switch in the rotary electrical component.

  A pair of terminals 15 respectively connected to the first fixed contact 13 and the second fixed contact 14 are disposed on the upper side surface of the base 1 shown in FIG. The terminal 15 is bent to the rear side of the rotary electrical component and is inserted into a groove formed on a circuit board (not shown). On the front surface of the base 1, a pair of protrusions 16 are formed that fit into holes formed in the rear surface of the case 4 described later. On the rear surface of the base 1, a plurality of engagement grooves 17 are formed to be engaged in a state where an engagement leg piece 93 of a cover member 9 described later is bent.

  The concave portion 12 of the base 1 accommodates the movable contact 2 formed of an elastic metal plate (for example, stainless steel or phosphor bronze). The movable contact 2 has an annular shape by forming a through hole 21 at the center. The vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the movable contact 2 is in contact with the second fixed contact 14 in a normal state (a state where no pressing operation is received), and the vicinity of the inner peripheral portion of the movable contact 1 is an operation shaft described later. 7 is in contact with the first fixed contact 13 in accordance with the pressing operation of the operator. That is, the first fixed contact 13 and the second fixed contact 14 are brought into conduction in response to the operator's pressing operation on the operation shaft 7.

  Further, the sheet 3 formed of a film such as polyester is accommodated in the recess 12 of the base 1. The sheet 3 has a circular shape corresponding to the recess 12 of the base 1 and is covered from the front side of the movable contact 2. The sheet 3 prevents dust and foreign matter from entering the contact portion and the circuit board via the light guide portion 71 of the operation shaft 7 described later. In addition, since the sheet 3 is formed of a material having translucency, the progress of light from the through hole 21 of the movable contact 2 is not hindered.

  The case 4 constituting a part of the housing functions as a light shielding member and is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The case 4 is formed of an opaque synthetic resin or the like so as to partially block light from the light source. A circular opening 41 is formed at the center of the case 4, and a recess 42 provided in a circular shape is formed around the opening 41. A conductive pattern 43 is formed on the front surface of the recess 42. The conductive pattern 43 and the slider 5 described later constitute a rotation detecting means.

  On the upper side surface of the case 4 shown in FIG. 1, a pair of cutout portions 44 that accommodate the terminals 15 disposed on the base 1 are formed. On the front side surface of the case 4, a pair of protrusions 45 are formed which are caulked with heat on the front side surface of the cover member 9 described later. A plurality of engagement grooves 46 are formed on the rear surface of the case 4 to be engaged in a state in which engagement leg pieces 93 of the cover member 9 described later are bent.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a space 47 for accommodating the base 1 is provided on the inner side of the case 4. Also, three terminals 48 connected to the conductive pattern 43 are disposed on the lower side surface of the case 4 shown in FIG. The terminal 48 is bent to the rear side of the rotary electrical component and is inserted into a groove formed on a circuit board (not shown). In this case, a part of the rear side of the side surface portion of the case 4 functions as a wall portion 49 that covers the outer periphery of the base 1 formed of a synthetic resin having translucency. The wall portion 49 is formed so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the base 1 except for the notch portion 44 where the terminal 15 is disposed.

  In the recess 42 of the case 4 is accommodated a slider 5 formed of an elastic metal plate (for example, phosphor bronze). The slider 5 includes an annular portion 51 and three contact pieces 52 extending rearward from the annular portion 51. The slider 5 is fixed to the rear surface of the rotating body 6 to be described later by heat caulking or the like so that the contact piece 52 slides on the conductive pattern 43 of the case 4 and rotates integrally with the rotating body 6. To do.

  The rotating body 6 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and a cylindrical portion 61 having a hollow cavity at the center is provided so as to protrude. On the inner peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion 61, a pair of guide portions 62 for guiding an engagement piece 73 of the operation shaft 7 described later is formed, and an engagement groove 63 for engaging with the engagement piece 73 is formed. ing. On the peripheral surface on the rear side of the cylindrical portion 61, a hook-shaped portion 65 having a continuous uneven click cam 64 is provided. The click cam 64 generates a click feeling during a rotation operation by engaging and disengaging a click projection of a leaf spring 8 described later. The slider 5 is attached to the rear surface of the bowl-shaped portion 65.

  The operation shaft 7 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The operation shaft 7 has a cylindrical shape, and a through hole functioning as the light guide 71 is formed in the center portion thereof. A connecting portion 72 is provided on the rear side of the operation shaft 7. The connecting portion 72 is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion of the operation shaft 7. A pair of engaging pieces 73 that engage with the engaging grooves 63 of the rotating body 6 are formed on the peripheral surface of the connecting portion 72. After passing the engaging piece 73 through the guide portion 62 of the rotating body 6, the operating shaft 7 is rotated and engaged with the engaging groove 63, so that the operating shaft 7 is attached to the rotating body 6 and integrated. It is constituted so that it may rotate.

  The leaf spring 8 is made of an elastic metal plate (for example, stainless steel or phosphor bronze), and is formed by punching or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame portion 81 has a substantially square shape, and an annular arm portion 82 is connected to the inside of the frame portion 81 via a connecting portion 83. The upper end portion and the lower end portion of the arm portion 82 are bent rearward, and the rear end portion is configured to be in sliding contact with the click cam 64. As a result, torque is applied to the rotation operation of the rotary electrical component. A click protrusion (not shown) is formed at the rear end portion of one arm portion 82. In addition, positioning holes 84 are formed at the four corners of the frame portion 81.

  The cover member 9 constituting a part of the housing is formed by stamping a metal plate and pressing it, and is formed to project from the flat plate portion 91 and the flat portion 91 to the front side. And the engaging leg piece 93 and the snap leg piece 94 projecting rearward from the flat surface portion 91. The bearing portion 92 has a cylindrical shape and is configured to support the operation shaft 7 so as to be rotatable inside thereof. The engagement leg piece 93 is bent to the rear side surface of the base 1 to unitize the rotary electric component. The snap leg piece 94 attaches the rotary electric component to the circuit board. In addition, positioning holes 95 are formed at the four corners of the flat portion 91. In the present embodiment, the cover member 9, the case 4, and the base 1 constitute a housing.

  When a rotating electrical part having such components is assembled, the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is obtained. FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the rotating electrical component according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of the rotating electrical component according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the side view from the right side has the same configuration as the side view from the left side, and thus the display is omitted.

  When the rotary electrical component according to the present embodiment is assembled, the base 1 is accommodated in the space 47 of the case 4 while the rotary body is accommodated in the recess 42 of the case 4 as shown in FIGS. In a state where 6 is accommodated, the cover member 9 is attached from the front side. The tip of the operation shaft 7 attached to the rotating body 6 is in a state of protruding forward through the bearing portion 92 of the cover member 9. Further, the terminal 15 of the base 1 is in a state of being accommodated in the cutout portion 44 of the case 4. The cover member 9 is bent so that the engagement leg piece 93 engages with the engagement groove 46 of the case 4 and the engagement groove 17 of the base 1, and the protrusion 45 of the case 4 protruding from the hole 95 is heated. The case 4 is fixed by caulking.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rotating electrical component according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 5 shows a cross section taken along the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5 shows an LED (L) as a light source that supplies light to the light guide portion 71 of the operation shaft 7 for convenience of explanation. The LED (L) is mounted on a circuit board (not shown) to which the rotary electrical component is attached by inserting and soldering the terminal 15 and the terminal 48.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the rotary electric component according to the present embodiment, the operation shaft 7 includes the light guide 71 and the light transmitting portion of the base 1 through the sheet 3 and the through hole 21 of the movable contact 2. 11 is attached to face 11. In the base 1, an accommodating portion 18 that accommodates the LED is formed in a region below the light transmitting portion 11. Light from the LED reaches the light guide 71 via the light transmitting part 11 and the sheet 3, and is guided to the outside of the operation shaft 7 by the light guide 71. In this case, since the wall portion 49 of the case 4 is disposed on the side of the base 1 shown in FIG. 5, the LED 1 while preventing unnecessary light from entering from the outer periphery of the base 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent light from leaking to an undesired portion, and to guide the light from the LED to the light guide 71 more reliably.

  Further, the operation shaft 7 is attached to the rotating body 6 accommodated in the recess 42 of the case 4, and can rotate integrally with the rotating body 6. When the operation of rotating the operation shaft 7 is performed by the operator, the rotating body 6 also rotates accordingly. In this rotary electric component, the rotation operation from the operator is detected by the rotation detection means comprising the conductive pattern 43 and the slider 5, and is output to the control means (not shown) via the terminal 48. It is configured.

  Further, the lower end portion of the operation shaft 7 is placed on the peripheral edge portion in the vicinity of the through hole 21 of the movable contact 2 via the sheet 3. The outer peripheral end of the movable contact 2 is in contact with the second fixed contact 14 disposed on the base 1. When the operator does not perform a pressing operation on the operation shaft 7, the movable contact 2 is in a state where the operation shaft 7 is lifted upward (the state shown in FIG. 5). On the other hand, when the operator performs a pressing operation on the operation shaft 7, the peripheral edge of the movable contact 2 in the vicinity of the through hole 21 moves downward and contacts the first fixed contact 13 in accordance with the pressing operation. Thereby, the 1st fixed contact 13 and the 2nd fixed contact 14 will be in a conduction state. In this rotary electric component, the pressing operation from the operator is detected by a push switch including the movable contact 2, the first fixed contact 13 and the second fixed contact 14, and control means (not shown) is connected via the terminal 15. It is configured to output to.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the rotary electrical component according to the present embodiment, a certain space is formed between the upper end portion 61 a of the cylindrical portion 61 of the rotating body 6 and the operation shaft 7. Thus, the pressing operation with respect to the operation shaft 7 is allowed, and the operation shaft 7 is restricted from moving downwards beyond a certain level. This prevents the push switch from being damaged by the downward movement of the operation shaft 7 according to the pressing operation.

  Thus, according to the rotary electrical component according to the present embodiment, the light guide 71 formed on the operation shaft 7 through the through hole 21 of the movable contact 2 and the base 1 constituting the push switch are formed. Since the light-transmitting part 11 is disposed so as to face the light-transmitting part 11, light from the light source can be guided to the light-guiding part 71 by disposing a light source (LED or the like) in the vicinity of the light-transmitting part 11. It is possible to receive a rotation operation and a pressing operation via the operation shaft 7 and illuminate the center of the operation shaft 7.

  Moreover, in the rotary electric component according to the present embodiment, the base 1 is formed of a synthetic resin having translucency, and the translucent portion 11 is formed of the synthetic resin. It is possible to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the fixed contact of the push switch. As a result, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the push switch and improve the reliability of the component itself.

  Furthermore, in the rotary electrical component according to the present embodiment, the light from the light source is partially blocked by the case 4 formed of an opaque synthetic resin, so that unwanted light from the light source can be blocked. This makes it possible to uniformly illuminate only the necessary part of the operation shaft 7.

  Further, in the rotary electric component according to the present embodiment, the light guide portion 71 of the operation shaft 7 is formed by a through hole, and the translucent sheet 3 is disposed on the operation shaft 7 side of the movable contact 2. Therefore, attenuation of light from the light source can be reduced, and illumination with high brightness can be realized. Further, since the light-transmitting sheet 3 can prevent dust and foreign matter from entering, even when the light guide portion 71 is formed with a through hole, malfunction of the push switch can be prevented, and the reliability of the component itself can be improved. It becomes possible to improve.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change and implement variously. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is exhibited. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the base 1 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin so as to transmit light from the light source and the portion corresponding to the light source is the light transmitting portion 11 is shown. However, the configuration of the base 1 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an opening 19 may be formed in a portion corresponding to the light source. Even in such a change, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the present embodiment. Even when the opening 19 is formed in this way, the sheet 3 is disposed below the light guide 71, so that dust, dust, and the like do not enter the contact portion and the circuit board.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the light guide part 71 of the operating shaft 7 is formed with a through-hole is demonstrated, about the structure of the light guide part 71, it is not limited to this, Changes can be made as appropriate on condition that light is transmitted. For example, a portion corresponding to the light guide portion 71 may be formed of a transparent resin. Further, the operation shaft 7 itself can be formed of a transparent resin. Thus, even when the configuration of the light guide unit 71 is changed, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment. In addition, when the light guide part 71 is formed of a transparent resin or the like as described above, a situation in which dust or the like enters from the operation shaft 7 is prevented, and thus the sheet 3 disposed on the movable contact 2 is omitted. You may do it.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the rotary electrical component which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure at the time of seeing the case which the rotary electric component which concerns on the said embodiment has from the back side of the rotary electric component. It is a whole perspective view of the rotating electrical component according to the embodiment. It is the front view, side view, and back view of the rotary electrical component which concerns on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the rotary electrical component which concerns on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the rotary electrical component which concerns on the modification of the said embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 11 Translucent part 13 1st fixed contact 14 2nd fixed contact 18 Storage part 2 Movable contact 21 Through-hole 3 Sheet 4 Case 43 Conductive pattern 49 Wall part 5 Slider 6 Rotating body 61 Cylindrical part 64 Click cam 7 Operation shaft 71 Light guide portion 8 Leaf spring 82 Arm portion 9 Cover member 91 Flat portion 92 Bearing portion

Claims (6)

  An operation shaft having a light guide portion in the axial direction, a housing for holding the operation shaft so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction, a rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of the operation shaft, and an axial direction of the operation shaft A push switch that operates in response to a pressing operation of the movable shaft, and the push switch includes an annular movable contact that is elastically deformed in response to a pressing operation of the operation shaft, and the light guide section through a through hole of the movable contact. A rotary electric component comprising a base having first and second fixed contacts that are provided with a light-transmitting portion disposed opposite to each other and made conductive by elastic deformation of the movable contact.   The rotating electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed of a synthetic resin having translucency, and the translucent portion is formed of the synthetic resin.   The rotary electric component according to claim 2, wherein the housing includes a light shielding member that partially shields light from a light source disposed in the vicinity of the light transmitting portion.   The rotary electric component according to claim 3, wherein the base has a housing portion that can house the light source, and the light shielding member has a wall portion that covers an outer periphery of the base.   The rotation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light guide portion is formed by a through-hole, and a light-transmitting sheet is disposed on the operation shaft side of the movable contact. Type electrical parts.   The said rotation detection means is comprised from the slider which rotates with the said operation axis | shaft, and the electroconductive pattern which this slider slidably contacts, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Rotating electrical parts.

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