JP2008146980A - Switch device with touch detection function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device with a touch detection function, which has a superior touch detection accuracy and has a superior operation feeling without making the stroke to pushing-in direction particularly large. <P>SOLUTION: An operation knob 10 is energized upward (arrow head A1 direction) by a compression coil spring 14. Between the lower surface of a wiring circuit board 6 and fixed to a switching body 1 and the bottom plate 13 of the operation knob 10, a touch detecting switch 18 of normally closed type is installed between the lower face of the wiring circuit board 6 fixed to the switch body 1 and the bottom plate of the operation knob 10, a touch detecting switch 18 of normally closed type is installed between the lower face of wiring circuit board 6 fixed to the switch body 1 and the bottom plate of the operation knob 10, and an operation switch 23 is installed at the upper face of the wiring circuit board 6. In a non-operation state, a movable contact 16 of the touch detecting switch 18 comes into contact with a fixed contact 17, and shows an on-state. If an operator come into contact with the operation knob 10, and it is depressed a little, the touch is detected by changeover of the touch detecting switch 18 to an off-state. If the operation knob 10 is pushed to a pushing position, the operation switch 23 is turn-on operated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device with a touch detection function having a function of detecting that a user has touched an operation knob.

For example, in an automobile, an operation guide function is considered in which a plurality of switches are provided on a steering wheel, and an operation guide function for displaying on the screen or informing the user what the operation knob switch touched (touched) by the user is considered. . In order to obtain such a function, it is necessary to detect that the user has touched the operation knob of the switch. Examples of the touch detection means currently considered include a capacitance type (see Patent Document 1 as a general example) and a double action type (see Patent Document 2 as a general example). .
JP-A-8-203402 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-29729

  However, in the case of the capacitance type, there is a problem that the detection accuracy is unstable and the detection circuit is complicated because it detects that a person has touched by a change in capacitance. Further, in the case of the double action type, since the pushing operation has two stages, there is a problem that the stroke in the pushing direction becomes large and the feeling of operation is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch with a touch detection function that has good touch detection accuracy, does not particularly increase the stroke in the push-in direction, and has a good operation feeling. To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the switch device with a touch detection function according to claim 1 is provided with an operation knob that is reciprocally movable between an original position and a push-in position, and returns the operation knob to the original position. An urging means for urging in a moving direction, a fixed contact provided in a stationary state at a stationary part, and moving integrally with the operation knob in a state facing the fixed contact from the return direction of the operation knob. A movable contact provided, and in a non-operating state of the operation knob, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact from the return direction and is turned on, and the operation knob is restricted to the original position; A touch detection switch for detecting a touch state on the operation knob by the operation knob being displaced in the pushing direction from the original position and the movable contact being separated from the fixed contact and being turned off; Work knob, characterized in that an operation switch operated with to be moved to the pushed-in position.

  In the above means, when the user touches the operation knob and the operation knob is slightly displaced in the pushing direction against the urging force of the urging means, the movable contact of the normally closed touch detection switch is pushed together with the operation knob. Is moved away from the fixed contact, and the touch detection switch is switched to the OFF state, so that it is determined that the user has touched the operation knob. Therefore, since it is possible to mechanically detect that the operation knob has been touched by the touch detection switch, the touch detection accuracy is stable compared to the case where the touch is detected by a change in capacitance, The detection circuit can also be simplified.

  The operation switch is operated by moving the operation knob to the push-in position. Since the push-in operation is a one-step operation, the stroke in the push-in direction is different from the double action type. There is no need to increase the size and the feeling of operation can be improved.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The switch device with a touch detection function of the present invention is provided, for example, on a steering wheel of a vehicle. First, in FIG. 1 in a non-operation state, a switch cover 2 is provided on the upper portion of the switch body 1. An opening 3 is formed in the upper part of the switch body 1. The switch cover 2 is formed with a cylindrical portion 4 having a through hole 4a which is positioned above the opening 3 and which is smaller than the opening 3 and is open at the top and bottom, and around the cylindrical portion 4. A recess 5 is formed.

  Inside the switch body 1, a wiring board 6 made of a printed wiring board is disposed below the opening 3. The wiring board 6 is fixedly attached to the switch body 1 with screws 7 so as to be substantially horizontal. A through hole 8 is formed in the wiring substrate 6 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the screw 7. A bottom plate 9 is fixedly attached to the bottom of the switch body 1.

  The operation knob 10 is configured by assembling an upper light-transmitting operation unit 11, an intermediate intermediate member 12, and a lower bottom plate 13. Among these, the operation part 11 has an upper surface protruding upward from the switch cover 2, and a connecting part 11a protruding from the lower surface is inserted into the through hole 4a so as to be movable from above. The intermediate member 12 has a stepped shape having an upper small diameter portion 12a and a lower large diameter portion 12b, and the small diameter portion 12a is inserted into the connecting portion 11a in the operation portion 11. It is connected and fixed to the connecting part 11a. The outer diameter of the lower large diameter portion 12b is formed larger than the through hole 4a, and a part thereof is inserted into the through hole 8 of the wiring board 6 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The bottom plate 13 is fixed to the lower surface of the large diameter portion 12b so as to close the opening.

Between the bottom plate 13 of the operation knob 10 and the bottom plate 9 of the switch body 1, a compression coil spring 14 constituting an urging means is disposed. The compression coil spring 14 urges the operation knob 10 upward (in the direction of arrow A1) in FIG. 1, which is a direction for returning the operation knob 10 to the original position. The operation knob 10 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating between the original position shown in FIG. 1 and the pushing position shown in FIG.
A contact holder 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 13 of the operation knob 10, and a movable contact 16 is fixed to the upper surface of the contact holder 15. On the lower surface of the wiring board 6, a pair of fixed contacts 17 is provided above the movable contact 16.

  Here, the wiring board 6 constitutes a stationary part of the present invention, and the fixed contact 17 is provided on the wiring board 6 which is a stationary part. The movable contact 16 is provided so as to move integrally with the operation knob 10 while facing the fixed contact 17 from below (in the direction of arrow A1), which is the return direction of the operation knob 10. The fixed contact 17 and the movable contact 16 constitute a touch detection switch 18. In the non-operating state of FIG. 1, the touch detection switch 18 is in an ON state when the movable contact 16 comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts 17 and restricts the operation knob 10 to the original position.

  A pair of fixed contacts 20 are provided on a predetermined portion of the upper surface of the wiring board 6, and a rubber dome portion 21 is provided so as to cover the fixed contacts 20 from above. A movable contact 22 is provided on the inner surface. The lower skirt portion 21 a of the dome portion 21 constitutes elastic return means, and biases the movable contact 22 in a direction away from the fixed contact 20. In this case, the operation switch 23 is configured by the dome portion 21, the skirt portion 21 a, the fixed contact 20, and the movable contact 22.

  On the inner surface of the large diameter portion 12 b of the intermediate member 12, a pressing portion 24 is provided at a portion corresponding to the upper side of the dome portion 21. A light emitting element 25 is provided on the upper surface of the wiring substrate 6 so as to be positioned below the operation unit 11. The light emitting element 25 is for night illumination and is turned on when a light switch (not shown) is turned on. Although not shown, the wiring board 6 is provided with a control device including a microcomputer, for example. This control device has a function of driving the light emitting element 25 and a load (not shown) based on input of signals from the touch detection switch 18, the operation switch 23, the light switch, and the like.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
In the non-operation state of FIG. 1, the operation knob 10 is urged upward (in the direction of arrow A <b> 1) by the urging force of the compression coil spring 14. At this time, the movable contact 16 in the touch detection switch 18 is in contact with the pair of fixed contacts 17 from below, the touch detection switch 18 is in an ON state, and the operation knob 10 is restricted to the original position. Accordingly, the touch detection switch 18 is normally closed. The pressing portion 24 is spaced upward from the upper surface of the dome portion 21, the movable contact 22 in the operation switch 23 is separated from the fixed contact 20, and the operation switch 23 is in an OFF state. When the light switch of the vehicle is turned on, the light emitting element 25 is turned on, and the operation unit 11 of the operation knob 10 is illuminated from the back side.

  In the state of FIG. 1, when the user's finger touches the operation portion 11 of the operation knob 10 and the operation knob 10 is slightly displaced in the direction of the arrow A <b> 2 opposite to the arrow A <b> 1 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 14. The movable contact 16 in the touch detection switch 18 is separated from the fixed contact 17, and the touch detection switch 18 is turned off. When the control device receives a signal indicating that the touch detection switch 18 is switched from the on state to the off state, the control device determines that the user has touched the operation knob 10 and displays this on a display (not shown). In addition, although the contact opening / closing of the touch detection switch 18 may occur due to vibration or the like, the control device prevents erroneous detection by distinguishing from voltage / current fluctuations during vibration and touch. Specifically, as an example, when the touch detection switch 18 is turned off for, for example, 50 ms or more, it is determined that the touch has been made.

  When the operation knob 10 is pushed and moved in the direction of the arrow A2, the dome portion 21 of the operation switch 23 is pushed by the pushing portion 24, and when the operation knob 10 is moved to the pushing position of FIG. The movable contact 22 contacts the pair of fixed contacts 20 while bending the skirt portion 21a of the portion 21, and the operation switch 23 is turned on. Then, the control device drives a load corresponding to the operation switch 23.

  In the state of FIG. 2, when the user releases the pressing operation on the operation knob 10, the operation knob 10 is returned to the original position direction (arrow A <b> 1 direction) by the urging force of the compression coil spring 14. Then, first, the movable contact 22 moves in the direction of arrow A1 due to the restoring force of the skirt portion 21a of the operation switch 23, moves away from the fixed contact 20, the operation switch 23 is turned off, and the operation knob 10 further moves in the direction of arrow A1. Then, the movable contact 16 of the touch detection switch 18 contacts the pair of fixed contacts 17 and the touch detection switch 18 is turned on, and the operation knob 10 is restricted to the original position in FIG.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. When the user touches the operation part 11 of the operation knob 10 and the operation knob 10 is slightly displaced in the pushing direction against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 14, the movable contact 16 of the normally closed touch detection switch 18 is operated. It is determined that the user has touched the operation knob 10 by moving in the pushing direction (arrow A2 direction) together with the knob 10 and moving away from the fixed contact 17 and the touch detection switch 18 is switched off. Accordingly, since the touch detection switch 18 can mechanically detect that the operation knob 10 has been touched, the touch detection accuracy is more stable than that in which the touch is detected by a change in capacitance. In addition, the detection circuit can be simplified.

  Then, the operation switch 23 is operated by moving the operation knob 10 to the pushing position, and the pushing operation is a one-step operation. Therefore, unlike the double action type, the pushing switch direction is changed. There is no need to make the stroke particularly large, and the operational feeling can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different parts will be described.

  In FIG. 3 in a non-operation state, the opening 30 of the switch body 1 is formed larger on the right side in FIG. 1 than the opening 3 in the first embodiment. Inside the switch body 1, a first wiring board 31 and a second wiring board 32 each made of a printed wiring board are arranged so as to be in two upper and lower stages. The first and second wiring boards 31 and 32 are fixed so as to be substantially horizontal by screws 33 and 34, respectively. The first wiring board 31 on the upper side is formed smaller than the second wiring board 32, and a through hole 35 is formed in the vicinity of the screw 33.

  The operation knob 36 is configured by assembling an upper light-transmitting operation unit 11 and a lower lower member 37. The lower member 37 has a stepped shape having an upper small diameter portion 37 a and a lower large diameter portion 37 b, and the small diameter portion 37 a is inserted into the connecting portion 11 a in the operation portion 11. It is connected and fixed to the connecting part 11a. A U-shaped connecting portion 38 having an open lower surface is integrally formed on the right portion of the large-diameter portion 37b, and a part of the connecting portion 38 is inserted into the through hole 35 of the first wiring board 31 from above. It is inserted movably. A connecting member 39 having an open upper surface is connected and fixed inside the connecting portion 38 so as to move integrally with the connecting portion 38, and a part of the connecting member 39 can be moved to the through hole 35 from below. Has been inserted.

  A rubber dome 40 is provided on the upper surface of the second wiring board 32 so as to be positioned below the connecting member 39. The dome portion 40 can be moved in the vertical direction via an elastic lower skirt portion 41. A movable contact 42 is provided on the lower surface of the dome portion 40. On the upper surface of the second wiring board 32, a pair of fixed contacts 43 are provided below the movable contact 42. Here, the dome portion 40, the skirt portion 41, the movable contact 42, and the fixed contact 43 constitute an operation switch 44. The skirt portion 41 urges the movable contact 42 in a direction away from the fixed contact 43. In this case, the skirt portion 41 urges the return means of the operation switch 44 and the direction of returning the operation knob 36 to the original position. It is the structure which serves as a means.

  A convex portion 45 thinner than the dome portion 40 is integrally provided on the upper surface of the dome portion 40, and the convex portion 45 is inserted into the hole 46 formed in the connecting member 39. Thereby, the upper surface of the dome portion 40 around the convex portion 45 is in contact with the lower surface of the connecting member 39. The convex portion 45 passes through the hole 46 and a movable contact 47 is provided on the upper surface thereof. On the lower surface of the first wiring board 31, a pair of fixed contacts 48 is provided at a portion corresponding to the movable contact 47.

  Here, the first wiring board 31 constitutes a stationary part of the present invention, and the fixed contact 48 is provided on the first wiring board 31 which is a stationary part. Further, the movable contact 47 is provided so as to move integrally with the operation knob 36 in a state of facing the fixed contact 48 from below (arrow A1 direction) which is the return direction of the operation knob 36. The fixed contact 48 and the movable contact 47 constitute a touch detection switch 49. In the non-operating state of FIG. 1, the touch detection switch 49 is in an on state when the movable contact 47 comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts 48 and restricts the operation knob 36 to the original position.

  On the upper surface of the second wiring board 32, a light emitting element 25 for night illumination is provided below the operation unit 11. Further, the second wiring board 32 is provided with a control device (not shown). This control device has a function of driving the light emitting element 25 and a load (not shown) based on the input of signals from the operation switch 44, the touch detection switch 49, the light switch, and the like.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
3, the operation knob 36 is urged upward (in the direction of arrow A1) by the urging force of the skirt portion 41 in the operation switch 44. At this time, the movable contact 47 in the touch detection switch 49 is in contact with the pair of fixed contacts 48 from below, the touch detection switch 49 is in an ON state, and the operation knob 36 is restricted to the original position. Also in this case, the touch detection switch 49 is normally closed. Further, the movable contact 42 in the operation switch 44 is separated from the fixed contact 43, and the operation switch 44 is in an OFF state. When the light switch of the vehicle is turned on, the light emitting element 25 is turned on, and the operation unit 11 of the operation knob 36 is illuminated from the back side.

  In the state of FIG. 3, when the user's fingers touch the operation portion 11 of the operation knob 36 and the operation knob 36 is slightly displaced in the direction of the arrow A2 opposite to the arrow A1 against the urging force of the skirt portion 41, The dome portion 40 is pressed and displaced in the same direction via the connecting member 39, the movable contact 47 in the touch detection switch 49 is separated from the fixed contact 48, and the touch detection switch 49 is turned off. When the control device receives a signal indicating that the touch detection switch 49 has switched from the on state to the off state, the control device determines that the user has touched the operation knob 36 and displays this on a display (not shown). In this case as well, contact opening / closing of the touch detection switch 49 may occur due to vibration or the like, but the control device prevents erroneous detection by distinguishing between fluctuations in voltage and current during vibration and touch.

  When the operation knob 36 is pushed and moved to the push position shown in FIG. 4, the movable contact 42 contacts the pair of fixed contacts 43 while the skirt portion 41 is bent, and the operation switch 44 is turned on. Then, the control device drives a load corresponding to the operation switch 44.

  In the state of FIG. 4, when the user releases the pressing operation on the operation knob 36, the operation knob 36 is returned to the original position direction (arrow A <b> 1 direction) via the dome portion 40 by the urging force of the skirt portion 41. Then, first, the movable contact 42 of the operation switch 44 is separated from the fixed contact 43 to be turned off, and when the operation knob 36 is further moved in the arrow A1 direction, the movable contact 47 of the touch detection switch 49 contacts the pair of fixed contacts 48. Then, the touch detection switch 49 is turned on and the operation knob 36 is restricted to the original position in FIG.

  According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to obtaining the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, the skirt portion 41 of the operation switch 44 is configured to serve as both the return means of the operation switch 44 and the urging means for urging the operation knob 36 toward the original position. Therefore, the compression coil spring according to the first embodiment. There is an advantage that 14 can be made unnecessary.

(Other embodiments)
The switch device with a touch detection function of the present invention can be used in places other than the steering wheel of a vehicle.
The operation switches 23 and 44 are not limited to facing switches using the elasticity of rubber, and for example, tact switches can be used.

Sectional drawing in the non-operation state which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention Sectional view with the operating knob moved to the push-in position FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention 2 equivalent diagram

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawing, 6 is a wiring board (stationary part), 10 is an operation knob, 14 is a compression coil spring (biasing means), 16 is a movable contact, 17 is a fixed contact, 18 is a touch detection switch, 20 is a fixed contact, 22 Is a movable contact, 23 is an operation switch, 31 is a first wiring board (stationary part), 32 is a second wiring board, 36 is an operation knob, 41 is a skirt (returning means, biasing means), 44 is an operation A switch 47, a movable contact 48, a fixed contact 48, and a touch detection switch 49 are shown.

Claims (2)

An operation knob provided to be able to reciprocate between the original position and the pushing position;
Biasing means for biasing the operation knob in a direction to return to the original position;
A fixed contact provided in a stationary state at a stationary part, and a movable contact provided so as to move integrally with the operation knob in a state of facing the fixed contact from the return direction of the operation knob. When the knob is not operated, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact from the return direction and is turned on, the operation knob is restricted to the original position, and the operation knob is moved from the original position to the pushing direction. A touch detection switch that detects a touch state on the operation knob by displacing and moving the movable contact away from the fixed contact;
A switch device with a touch detection function, comprising: an operation switch that is operated when the operation knob is moved to the pushing position.   2. The switch device with a touch detection function according to claim 1, wherein the operation switch has a return means, and the return means also serves as an urging means for urging the operation knob in a direction to return to the original position. .

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