JP2009245860A - Switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch structure for performing reliable on/off switching operation even when pushing any portion of a button. <P>SOLUTION: The switch structure includes a tact switch 3 for performing on/off switching with the homeward movement of a movable portion 3b, the button 4 open at one face and hollow inside, a sectionally U-shaped knob 5 located between the button 4 and the tact switch 3 and capsulated in the button 4, and a fixing member (a substrate 6) for supporting the knob 5 at both leg portions 5a, 5b. When the button 4 is pushed to push the knob 5 out, the knob 5 is supported at both leg portions 5a, 5b abutting on the substrate 6 and a thrust portion 5c between both leg portions 5a, 5b is curved to push the movable porion 3b in for on/off switching operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch structure that performs on / off switching by reverse movement. The present invention relates to a PTT (Push To Talk) switch structure mainly used for wireless communication devices.

  A conventional PTT switch structure of a general wireless communication device will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless communication device 10 has a structure in which a casing 11 covers a substrate on which a speaker, a microphone, an electronic device and the like are mounted, and a button 12 is provided on a side surface thereof. When the button 12 is pressed, an input signal from a built-in microphone is transmitted to another wireless communication device, and in a released state, a reception signal received from another wireless communication device is output from a speaker.

  FIG. 6B shows a cross section of a conventional PTT switch. A tact switch 13 is installed on the substrate 14, and transmission and reception are switched by turning on / off the tact switch 13. The button 12 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and is fitted into the casing 11 and fixed so as not to be submerged from the periphery. In a state where the button 12 is not pressed, the pressing portion 12a of the button 12 is disposed so as to slightly contact or slightly move away from the movable portion 13b of the tact switch 13, and the tact switch 13 is turned off, so-called reception state. It is in.

FIG. 6C shows a state where the button 12 is pressed with a finger as indicated by an arrow. When the pressing portion 12a of the button 12 pushes the movable portion 13b of the tact switch 13, the tact switch 13 is turned on, that is, in a so-called transmission state.
In addition, there is a similar switch structure in which a spring is interposed between a tact switch and a button (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-297659 A

  The conventional switch structure described above has the following problems. When the button 12 is pushed from an oblique direction, the button 12 is made of an elastic member, so that the elastic deformation occurs, the movable part 13b is not pushed in, and the transmission state is not brought about. For example, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 7A, when the button 12 is pushed from below, only the button 12 is elastically deformed in the oblique direction, and no force is transmitted to the movable portion 13b, and the tact switch 13 is turned on. Don't be. The same applies when the button is pushed obliquely from above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, even when the lower part or the upper part of the button 12 is pushed straight, since it is elastically deformed obliquely, an effective force is not transmitted to the movable part 13b. Cannot be switched. For this reason, there existed a subject that the effective location which can push the button 12 was very narrow, and operation was difficult.

  In order to enter the transmission state, the user is required to push the vicinity of the center of the button 12 straight to the tact switch 13 side, and further to maintain the straight push state, and the operability is very poor. For this reason, even if the button 12 is pressed, the transmission state cannot be established, or the position of the finger holding the button 12 is shifted in the middle of transmission and the tact switch 13 is switched to the off state, so that the requirements cannot be transmitted to the other party. was there.

  Moreover, in patent document 1, it is the form which fitted the spring between the button and the tact switch, and unless the force is applied in the direction in which the spring expands and contracts, the tact switch cannot be effectively switched on / off. Therefore, the switch cannot be operated even if the button is pushed obliquely, and the operability is poor.

  A switch structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes a tact switch in which a movable portion moves backward and switches on / off, a button having an opening on one side and a hollow inside, and a position between the button and the tact switch. A knob included in the button, and a fixing member that supports both ends of the knob, and pushes the button to push out the knob from the opening, and both ends of the knob are supported by the fixing member. The tactile switch is turned on and off by curving a pressing portion therebetween and pushing in the movable portion.

  Preferably, the knob has a U-shaped cross section, and the leg portions at both ends of the knob are arranged so as to protrude from the button, the leg portions are in contact with and supported by the fixing member, and between the both leg portions. The pressing portion is curved.

  Preferably, a substrate is used as the fixing member, and the tact switch is fixed to the substrate.

  Preferably, the back of the button and the knob is inclined.

  Preferably, the button and the knob are formed of an elastic member.

  Preferably, the button and the knob are formed of any one of silicone rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, or ethylene propylene rubber.

  According to the present invention, the tact switch is turned on / off by pushing the button and pushing the knob. Both ends of the knob are supported by a fixing member such as a substrate, and the pressing portion between both ends is curved so as to protrude toward the tact switch side. Both ends are supported, and the force is transmitted effectively to bend the pressing part of the knob no matter where the button is pressed, so the tact switch can be turned on and off easily regardless of how the button is pressed. Has the advantage of very high performance.

  An example of the switch structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a wireless communication device 1 using the switch structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an arrangement order of each component, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an arrangement state of each component. is there.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 1 has the same shape as a conventional wireless communication device, and only the switch structure is different. Accordingly, the button 4 is arranged on the side surface of the casing 2 that covers almost the whole of the wireless communication device 1 as in the prior art, and transmission is performed by pressing the button 4 with a finger, and reception is switched by releasing the button 4. It is carried out.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch structure of the present invention mainly includes a tact switch 3, a button 4, a knob 5, and a substrate 6 serving as a fixing member.

  The tact switch 3 is mainly composed of a main body portion 3a and a movable portion 3b, and the movable portion 3b slightly protrudes from the main body portion 3a. The movable part 3b is also called a stem. The main body 3a of the tact switch 3 is fixed to the substrate 6 fixed to the casing 2 by solder or the like. The movable portion 3b has a restoring force, and is retracted when a force is applied in the direction of the main body portion 3a, and returns to the original position by the restoring force when the force is stopped. In this way, the movable part 3b moves backward (reciprocates in the left-right direction in the figure) and retracts or protrudes into the main body part 3a, thereby switching on / off by switching the connection of a circuit provided therein. It is carried out.

  The button 4 is a member having an opening 4c on one side and a hollow inside. The user performs a transmission / reception operation by pressing the button 4 with a finger. Around the four side surfaces surrounding the opening 4c of the button 4, recesses 4a are provided over the entire circumference. With the opening 4c of the button 4 facing inward, the recess 4a is fitted into the opening 2a of the casing 2 and fixed by being pushed into the opening 2a provided in the casing 2 from the inside. As a result, the wireless communication device 1 is prevented from being flooded.

  The back of the button 4 (the surface to be pressed with a finger during use) is inclined so that the center is high and both ends are low, so that the user can easily press the button 4. The back of the button 4 is provided with wavy irregularities, which function as a slip stopper 4b. Thereby, it is difficult for the finger to slip, and malfunctions such as switching between transmission and reception when the finger is released while the button 4 is being pressed are suppressed.

The knob 5 is a member having a U-shaped cross section, and is located between the button 4 and the tact switch 3. Most of the knob 5 enters the opening 4 c of the button 4 and is contained therein, and the leg portions 5 a and 5 b at both ends of the knob 5 protrude from the button 4. And the press part 5c between both the leg parts 5a and 5b of the knob 5 is arrange | positioned in the state contact | abutted or spaced apart so that the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3 was not pushed in to the main-body part 3a.
Both leg portions 5a and 5b of the knob 5 support both ends of the knob 5, and push the movable portion 3b of the tact switch 3 by bending the pressing portion 5c.

Since the knob 5 needs to be pushed out from the opening 4c by pressing the button 4, the gap between the opening 4c of the button 4 and the knob 5 may be formed to such an extent that the knob 5 can slide and move.
Further, in accordance with the shape of the back of the button 4, the back of the knob 5 (the surface pressed by the button 4) may be similarly inclined so as to become lower from the center toward both ends.

The button 4 and the knob 5 are made of an elastic member such as rubber. The button 4 has a role of pushing out the knob 5 and also has a waterproofing function as described above, and its periphery is fitted with the casing 2. This is because the hard member creates a gap between the casing 2 and impairs the waterproof function, and cannot be deformed when the periphery is fixed, and the knob 5 cannot be pushed out.
Further, because the knob 5 is bent and pushes the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3, if a hard material is used, the knob 5 does not bend and does not exhibit the function of pushing the movable part 3b.

  In addition to silicone rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, or the like can be used as such a material. If a milky white material is used, an illumination device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is provided on the substrate, and the button 4 can emit light. The user can recognize where the button 4 is in a dark place and can immediately switch between transmission and reception.

  Even if an excessive load is applied to the button 4, the button 4 and the knob 5 made of an elastic member are deformed and the force is dispersed. Further, the knob 5 has both leg portions 5a and 5b, which abut against the substrate 6 to disperse an excessive load on the substrate 6, so that an excessive load is transmitted to the tact switch 3 and is prevented from being broken.

Subsequently, the operation of the switch structure of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, when the button 4 is pushed straight in the direction of the tact switch 3 (direction shown by the arrow), the knob 5 is pushed out to the tact switch 3 side. Since both the leg portions 5a and 5b of the knob 5 are supported in contact with the substrate 6, the pressing portion 5c between the both leg portions 5a and 5b is curved so as to protrude toward the tact switch 3 side. Thereby, the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3 is pushed into the main body part 3a. In this case, the wiring is connected within the main body 3a and the transmission state is established.
When the finger is released, the knob 5 and the button 4 are pushed in the direction opposite to the arrow by the restoring force of the movable portion 3b of the tact switch 3, and pushed back to the original position. In this case, the wiring inside the main body 3a is cut and the receiving state is established.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where the button 4 is pushed from an oblique direction. As shown in FIG. 5A, even when the button 4 is pushed obliquely from above (in the direction of the arrow), both the leg portions 5a and 5b of the knob 5 are in contact with and supported by the substrate 6. For this reason, the pressing part 5c between both leg parts 5a and 5b is curved so as to protrude to the tact switch 3 side. The curved pressing portion 5c pushes the movable portion 3b to connect the wiring, and enters a transmission state. More specifically, when the end of the button 4 is pushed, the knob 5 is pushed diagonally, and the leg 5a of the knob 5 comes into contact with the substrate 6 first, but when the button 4 is pushed further, the knob 5 The leg 5a is slightly rotated around the leg 5a that is in contact with the substrate 6, and the leg 5b that is not in contact with the substrate 6 is also in contact with the substrate 6. When the button 4 is further pushed in, both the leg portions 5a and 5b of the knob 5 are supported, so that the pressing portion 5c is curved. The curved pressing part 5c contacts the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3, and pushes the movable part 3b into the main body part 3a. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3 can be pushed in even when it is pushed obliquely from below, so that transmission / reception can be switched.

  Since most of the knob 5 is contained in the button 4 fixed to the casing 2, the knob 5 does not expand so as to extend to the periphery, and both the leg portions 5a and 5b abut against the substrate 6 to be sure. Therefore, the force is transmitted to the pressing portion 5c. In other words, the elastic deformation of the legs 5a and 5b is suppressed, while the pressing part 5c between the legs 5a and 5b is easily elastically deformed. As described above, the force of pushing the button 4 with the finger is effectively transmitted to the pressing portion 5c between the both leg portions 5a and 5b. Therefore, the pressing portion 5c receives this force to be surely curved and pushes the movable portion 3b. it can.

  Thus, in addition to pressing the vicinity of the center of the button 4 straightly, pressing the button 4 from an oblique direction, or pressing near the end of the button 4, the both legs of the knob 5 can be pressed. Since the space between 5a and 5b is curved, the user can use it without worrying about the on / off operation of the switch as in the prior art.

  In addition, a wireless communication device such as a microphone may have different devices mounted on a substrate while using the same casing 2 in accordance with a required function. In this case, the tact switch 3 is not necessarily at the same position for design reasons, and is often slightly shifted. In the conventional switch structure, the switch cannot be turned on / off unless it is pressed near the center of the button, but the switch of the present invention can be turned on / off even if the position of the tact switch 3 is slightly shifted. . If the leg 5a and 5b of the knob 5 are wide and the movable part 3b of the tact switch 3 is positioned between them, the pressing part 5c is entirely curved by the elastic deformation of the knob 5 and pushes down the movable part 3b. be able to. Thus, the structure in which the area of the portion that receives the force of the movable portion 3b of the tact switch 3 is small relative to the area of the back of the button 4 and the pressing portion 5c of the knob 5 is very effective.

  Since the button 4 and the knob 5 are made of an elastic member, an excessive load acts on the tact switch 3 and is not damaged. When an excessive load is applied, the button 4 and the knob 5 made of an elastic member are deformed to disperse the force, which functions as a damper. Further, the knob 5 has both leg portions 5a and 5b, which abut against the substrate 6 to disperse an excessive load on the substrate 6, so that an excessive load is transmitted to the tact switch 3 and is prevented from being broken.

  Moreover, a desired click feeling can be obtained by changing the material of the button 4 and the knob 5. For example, when the elastic member has a high hardness, the stroke of pressing the button 4 is short, and a direct click feeling can be obtained. On the other hand, by making the hardness low, the stroke becomes long and a gentle click feeling can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the switch structure of the present invention, no matter which position of the button is pressed, force is effectively transmitted so as to bend the pressing portion of the knob. Therefore, no matter how the button is pressed, the tact switch is turned on / off. Switching is easy, and there is an advantage that the operability is very high.

  In addition, since the knob has a U-shaped cross section, the leg portions at both ends of the knob are securely in contact with and supported by the substrate. Thereby, a press part will curve more easily. If the movable part of the tact switch is between the leg parts of the knob, the movable part can be pushed in effectively. In the case of a product having different functions in the same casing, such as a wireless communication device, the position of the tact switch on the substrate is not necessarily fixed, but in the present invention, the movable part of the tact switch is between the legs of the knob. Therefore, there is an advantage that the allowable range of product design is wide and versatility is high.

  Furthermore, by forming the button and knob from an elastic member, an excessive load is applied to the tact switch and it is not damaged. When an excessive load is applied, the button and knob made of an elastic member are deformed to disperse the force, so to function as a damper. And since both the leg parts of a knob contact | abut to a board | substrate and an excessive load is disperse | distributed to a board | substrate, it can suppress that an excessive load is transmitted to a tact switch and it breaks.

  As the knob and the material of the knob, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, etc. can be used in addition to silicone rubber. A desired click feeling can be obtained by changing the knob and the material of the knob. By making the elastic member high in hardness, the button pressing stroke is short and a direct click feeling can be obtained. On the other hand, by making the hardness low, the stroke is lengthened and a gentle click feeling can be obtained. Can do.

  In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to a PTT switch of a wireless communication device has been described.

It is a front view of the radio | wireless communication apparatus using the switch structure of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the arrangement | sequence order of the switch structure of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the switch structure of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows on / off operation | movement of the switch structure of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows on / off operation | movement of the switch structure of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the conventional PTT switch. It is sectional drawing which shows the on / off operation | movement of the conventional PTT switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless communication apparatus 2 Casing 2a Opening part 3 Tact switch 3a Main body part 3b Movable part 4 Button 4a Recessed part 4b Non-slip 4c Opening part 5 Knob 5a Leg part 5b Leg part 5c Pressing part 6 Substrate 10 Wireless communication apparatus 11 Casing 12 Button 13 Tact switch 13a Body 13b Movable part 14 Substrate

Claims (6)

A tact switch that moves the moving part back and switches on / off;
A button with one side open and a hollow inside,
A knob located between the button and the tact switch and enclosed in the button;
A fixing member that supports both ends of the knob,
Pushing the button pushes the knob out of the opening, supports both ends of the knob with the fixing member, curves the pressing portion between the both ends, pushes the movable portion, and switches the tact switch on / off. A switch structure characterized by performing. The knob has a U-shaped cross section, and the leg portions at both ends of the knob are arranged to protrude from the button,
The switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion is in contact with and supported by the fixing member, and the pressing portion between the leg portions is curved.   The switch structure according to claim 1, wherein a substrate is used as the fixing member, and the tact switch is fixed to the substrate.   The switch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a back of the button and the knob is inclined.   The switch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the button and the knob are formed of an elastic member.   The switch structure according to claim 5, wherein the button and the knob are formed of any one of silicone rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, and ethylene propylene rubber.

Images