JP2010118197A - Switch body with key top - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch body with key tops without fear of making mistakes in mounting positions of the key tops, in mounting the plurality of key tops on a key-top retainer. <P>SOLUTION: The switch body is provided with a switch board 10 equipped with a plurality of switches 15, a key-top retainer 50 of a rubber-like elastic material, and a plurality of key tops 100a to 100d. A switch pressing part 105 protruded from each key top 100a to 100d is inserted into each pressing part through-hole 59 of the key-top retainer 50. A pair of positioning protrusions 107 are made protruded from an outer periphery face of each switch pressing part 105 of each key top 100a to 100d. A pair each of protrusion insertion grooves 61 to be inserted into the positioning protrusion 107 are provided around each pressing part through-hole 59. A protruding direction of each pair of positioning protrusions 107 of each key top 100a to 100d is made differentiated according to each key top 100a to 100d. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch body with a key top used as an operation panel of various electronic devices.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various electronic devices, such as portable digital cameras, are provided with a switch body (operation panel) with a key top to which various operation buttons (key tops) for operating the electronic devices are attached. This type of switch body with a key top has a structure in which a key top is installed on each of a plurality of switches provided on a switch board. As a method of installing a plurality of key tops on each switch so as to be movable up and down, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1, a key top made of a molded resin is adhesive on a flat rubber elastic plate. There is a method of bonding with.

  However, in the above conventional example, when desired characters or symbols are formed on the upper surface of the key top and the direction of rotation is directional, positioning of the rotation direction is performed when each key top is bonded onto the rubber elastic plate. It was necessary to carry out, and the installation work was complicated.

  In order to solve this, in Patent Document 2, a pair of locking pieces (19, 21) project from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion (17) of the key top (10) outward in the radial direction, The switch pressing portions of the key top holding body (50) made of a rubber-like elastic plate are arranged with the positions of the pair of locking pieces (19, 21) at asymmetrical positions around the switch pressing portion (17). There has been proposed a method of engaging the locking pieces (19, 21) with locking piece engaging portions (55, 57) provided on the outer periphery of the insertion portion (53). According to this method, accurate positioning of the key top (10) in the rotational direction with respect to the rubber-like elastic plate (50) can be easily performed.

  However, even in the case of Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1, when a plurality of key tops are attached to one key top holder, there is a risk that the attachment positions of the key tops will be misidentified. there were.

In addition, when a reversal plate made of an elastic metal plate is used as a switch, a sound or vibration is generated when the reversal plate is pressed by the switch pressing part of the key top and reversed. There was also a problem such as being received by a microphone and being recorded as noise. Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, various soundproof members have been installed, but there are problems such as an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the number of assembly steps.
JP 2002-367471 A JP 2006-344516 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to easily manufacture a plurality of key tops without attaching each key top to the wrong position when attaching to a key top holder. Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch body with a key top that can achieve effective sound insulation (vibration prevention) with a simple structure.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a switch board provided with a plurality of switches on the upper surface, a key top holder made of rubber-like elastic material installed on the switch board, and mounted on the key top holder. A plurality of key tops, wherein each key top has a structure in which a switch pressing portion protrudes in a pressing direction from a key top body having substantially the same shape and different indexes. The switch pressing part of the key top is inserted into each pressing part insertion hole provided in the key top holding body, and the tip of each switch pressing part is opposed to each of the plurality of switches (both when there is a contact or a gap). Including at least one pair of positioning members in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion of each key top. Protruding portions are provided so as to protrude, and a protrusion insertion groove for inserting a positioning protrusion of each key top is provided around each pressing portion insertion hole of the key top holding body, and a pair of positioning of each key top is provided. In the switch body with a key top, the projecting direction of the projection is made different depending on the key top.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the switch body with a key top according to the first aspect, a noise-controlling protrusion that protrudes downward is provided around the pressing portion insertion hole on the lower surface of the key top holding body. In the switch body with a key top, the lower end of the noise suppressing projection is located at the same position as or lower than the lower end of the switch pressing portion to be inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the protruding directions of the pair of positioning projections of each key top are made different depending on the key top, when attaching a plurality of key tops to the rubber elastic plate, There is no mistake in the mounting positions of the key tops.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the switch pressing portion presses the switch, the lower end of the noise suppressing projection comes into contact with the surface on or around the switch, so that the switch pressing portion presses the switch. The sound and vibration to be generated at the time can be suppressed or absorbed by the noise control projection, and the generation of these sounds or vibrations can be prevented. This effect is particularly effective in suppressing sound and vibration generated from the reversing plate when the reversing plate is installed as an upper switch as the switch. Further, since the noise control protrusion is formed as a part of the key top holder, the number of parts does not increase, the number of assembly steps does not increase, and it can be produced easily and at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of a switch body 1 with a key top according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch body 1 with a key top, and FIG. 3 is a view of the switch body 1 with a key top as viewed from below. It is a disassembled perspective view. As shown in these drawings, the switch body 1 with a key top constitutes a switch 15 together with the switch substrate 10 provided with a plurality (four) of switch patterns 15a and 15b on the upper surface and the switch patterns 15a and 15b. The reversing plate 40, a key top holder 50 made of rubber-like elastic material installed on the switch substrate 10, and a plurality of key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d attached on the key top holder 50 are provided. Configured. In the following description, “up” refers to the direction from the switch board 10 toward the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, and “down” refers to the opposite direction.

  The switch board 10 is formed by insert-molding the flexible switch board 11 on a board mounting base 30 made of molded resin. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flexible switch substrate 11. As shown in the figure, the flexible switch substrate 11 is formed by forming a flexible synthetic resin film (in this embodiment, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film) 13 in a substantially strip shape, and a plurality of (four in a row) on the upper surface thereof. ) Of a pair of switch patterns 15a and 15b, and a circuit pattern (not shown) drawn from each of the switch patterns 15a and 15b is drawn from the approximate center of the synthetic resin film 11 at the tip of the substantially strip-like lead portion 17 It is configured to be connected to a connection pattern 21 provided in the portion 19. The switch pattern 15a has a dot shape, and the switch pattern 15b has a C shape so as to surround the switch pattern 15a. Although not shown, a portion of the circuit pattern drawn from the switch pattern 15a passing between the switch patterns 15b is covered with an insulating layer so as not to touch the reversing plate 40 described below. A small hole 23 is formed at a position surrounding the switch pattern 15b in the synthetic resin film 13 so as to connect a substrate mounting base 30 (a portion of the peripheral wall portion 33 described below) formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible switch substrate 11. ing.

  The substrate mounting base 30 is formed so as to cover the outer peripheral side surface and the lower surface of the flexible switch substrate 11, and is also formed at a position surrounding the switch patterns 15 a and 15 b on the upper surface of the flexible switch substrate 11. That is, the periphery of each switch pattern 15a, 15b is surrounded by a substantially ring-shaped peripheral wall portion 33, and the inside of the peripheral wall portion 33 is an inversion plate storage portion 35 from which each switch pattern 15a, 15b is exposed. Plural (six) small protrusions 37 are provided at predetermined positions on the upper surface of the substrate mounting base 30. In this embodiment, an ABS resin is used as the material for the substrate mounting base 30, but other various thermoplastic synthetic resins may be used.

  A reversing plate 40 is accommodated in each reversing plate storage portion 35 of the substrate mounting base 30. The reversing plate 40 is formed by forming an elastic metal plate in a substantially dome shape, and its outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the reversing plate storage portion 35.

  The key top holder 50 is formed by molding a rubber-like elastic material into a substantially plate shape that substantially covers the upper surface of the switch substrate 10, and in this embodiment, silicon rubber is used. Of course, other various materials may be used as long as they have rubbery elasticity. A key top mounting portion 51 is provided at a position of the key top holder 50 facing each reversing plate storage portion 35 of the switch substrate 10. Each keytop mounting portion 51 has a shape in which a circular cup is turned down, and is configured by providing a cylindrical side wall portion 55 around a circular keytop placement portion 53. A flexible portion 57 is connected to the lower portion of the side wall portion 55 so as to protrude upward in a dish shape and spread outward in the radial direction from the side wall portion 55, and vertically penetrates the center of the key top mounting portion 53. One pressing portion insertion hole 59 and a pair of protruding portion insertion grooves 61, 61 are formed.

  The pressing portion insertion hole 59 is formed by a circular small hole that exactly inserts the switch pressing portion 105 of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d described below, and the pair of protruding portion insertion grooves 61 and 61 includes the key tops 100a, It is formed by a rectangular recess that fits exactly through the pair of positioning projections 107 of 100b, 100c, and 100d. As will be described below, each of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d has a pair of positioning projections 107 that project from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion 105 in the radial direction. , 100c, and 100d, and the direction in which the positioning projection 107 protrudes from each pressing portion insertion hole 59 is also different for each pressing portion insertion hole 59 accordingly. Specifically, when the direction in which the pressing portion insertion holes 59 are arranged in FIG. 2 is a direction A, a linear protrusion insertion groove extending in the direction A is provided in the leftmost pressing portion insertion hole 59 in FIG. 61 and a linear protrusion insertion groove 61 directed in a direction inclined slightly toward the front side of the direction A are provided, and the linear protrusion insertion path 59 extending in the direction A is inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole 59 adjacent thereto. A groove 61 and a linear protrusion insertion groove 61 directed in a direction inclined slightly to the back side with respect to the direction A are provided, and both of the pressing portion insertion holes 59 adjacent to the groove 61 are linear in the direction A. The protruding portion insertion groove 61 is provided, and the right end pressing portion insertion hole 59 is provided with a linear protruding portion insertion groove 61 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the direction A.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical sound-damping protrusion 63 protrudes downward from a position around each pressing portion insertion hole 59 on the lower surface of each keytop placement portion 53. The sound-suppressing protrusion 63 has a tapered cylindrical shape whose outer diameter is gradually reduced in the downward direction and whose inner diameter is constant (see, for example, FIG. 5). The inner diameter dimension of the noise suppressing projection 63 is the same as the inner diameter dimension of the pressing portion insertion hole 59. The noise suppression projection 63 is provided with a pair of notches 65 connected to the pair of projection insertion grooves 61. The notch 65 is provided so as to divide the sound-suppressing protrusion 63 into two parts from the portion connected to the protrusion insertion groove 61 of the sound-suppressing protrusion 63 to the lower end thereof. As will be described below, the length of the noise suppressing projection 63 is longer than the lower end of the switch pressing portion 105 of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d to be inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole 59. The length of the lower end of 63 is slightly lower.

  A frame portion 69 having a thick plate thickness is provided around the key top holding body 50, and a positioning hole 71 penetrating vertically is provided in the frame portion 69.

  The key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are molded products of synthetic resin. In this embodiment, ABS resin is used, but other various thermoplastic synthetic resins may be used. Each of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d includes a key top main body 110 having a substantially disc shape and substantially the same shape. The thin plate ring-shaped flange portion 101 projects from the lower outer periphery of the key top body 110, and at the center of the lower surface. A cylindrical switch pressing portion 105 protrudes downward from the center of the bottom surface of the circular recess 103 provided, and a pair of pressing directions (vertical directions) from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion 105 in a direction orthogonal to each other. The positioning projection 107 is provided so as to protrude. The recess 103 is circular and has an inner diameter dimension slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of the key top mounting portion 51 of the key top holder 50. The pair of positioning projections 107 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral side surface of the key top pressing portion 105, and both are formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, and downward from the bottom surface of the recess 103. The lower end is located at a position (upper) lower than the lower end of the key top pressing portion 105. The protruding directions of the pair of positioning projections 107 of each key top 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are different for each key top 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d. Specifically, when the direction in which the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are arranged in FIG. 3 is a direction A, the key top 100a at the left end of FIG. A protrusion 107 and a linear positioning protrusion 107 facing in a direction inclined slightly toward the front side of the direction A are provided, and a linear positioning protrusion facing the direction A is provided on the adjacent key top 100b. Part 107 and a linear positioning projection 107 facing in a direction slightly inclined to the back side with respect to direction A, and adjacent key top 100c is provided with a linear positioning protrusion facing both in direction A. A protrusion 107 is provided, and the right-side key top 100d is provided with a linear positioning protrusion 107 that faces in a direction orthogonal to the direction A. In other words, the projecting direction from the switch pressing portion 105 of at least one of the positioning projections 107, 107 of the pair of positioning projections 107, 107 of each key top 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d is determined as the key top 100a. , 100b, 100c, and 100d. Further, on the top surfaces of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d, display portions 109 having different shapes and colors are formed by printing or the like.

  To assemble the switch body 1 with key top, first, the reversing plates 40 are respectively housed in the reversing plate housing portions 35 of the switch board 10, and the outer peripheral lower surface of the reversing plate 40 is brought into contact with the switch contact 15b. Then, a part (at least two places) of the peripheral wall portion 33 surrounding the reversing plate 40 is crushed by heat caulking as shown in FIG. 6, and the crushed fixing portion 41 is pressed against the outer peripheral upper surface of the reversing plate 40. To fix. Thus, the switch 15 is configured.

  On the other hand, the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are placed on the key top mounting portions 51 of the key top holding body 50, and the switch pressing portions 105 and the positioning protrusions of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d. 107 is inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole 59 and the protruding portion insertion groove 61 facing each other. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a part where the switch pressing part 105 of the key top 100a is inserted into the pressing part insertion hole 59 of the key top holding body 50 as viewed from below. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view thereof (a cross-sectional view of a portion where the positioning protrusion 107 is not located). As shown in these drawings, the distal end (lower end) of the switch pressing portion 105 is slightly retracted from the distal end (lower end) of the noise suppression projection 63, and both positioning projections 107 are for noise suppression through the notches 65. The protrusion 63 protrudes outward (radially outward). Then, as shown in FIG. 9, both positioning projections 107 projecting outward from the noise-controlling projection 63 are crushed by a heating iron (or ultrasonic iron) from the lower end portion thereof, and are caulked. Thus, the key top 100a is attached onto the key top holding body 50. The same applies to the other key tops 100b, 100c, and 100d. More specifically, each of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d is connected in a state where the outer periphery of the collar portion 101 is connected by a single connecting member (not shown) and is turned over while being connected. The key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are inserted and positioned in a jig (not shown). Next, the connecting member 120 is cut and separated, and the individual key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are positioned on the jigs, and the key top holding body 50 that is turned upside down is put on each key. The switch pressing portions 105 and the positioning protrusions 107 of the tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are inserted into the pressing portion insertion holes 59 and the protrusion insertion grooves 61 of the key top holding body 50 that oppose them, respectively. Then, when the heated iron (or ultrasonic iron) is pressed against the lower end of each positioning projection 107 and heat caulked, the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d of the key top holding body 50 are pressed. Installation work is completed. As in this embodiment, if the lower end of the positioning projection 107 inserted into the projection insertion groove 61 of the key top holding body 50 is heat caulked on the lower surface of the key top holding body 50, the key top 100a, Compared with the case where 100b, 100c, and 100d are attached to the key top holding body 50 using an adhesive, the attaching operation can be performed easily and reliably, and the process management is simplified. In particular, when the lower ends of the pair of positioning projections 107 are heat-caulked, the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are attached to the key top holding body 50 on both sides of the switch pressing portion 105. Even if it has rubber-like elasticity, the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d can be securely attached with good balance and strong attachment strength.

  By the way, the switch body 1 with a key top has a key top 100a that projects in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion 105 of the pair of positioning projections 107 of each key top 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d. , 100b, 100c, 100d, when attaching a plurality of key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d to the key top holder 50, the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are attached to each other. There is no wrong position. That is, even if it is attempted to insert the switch pressing portion 105 of the key top 100c into the pressing portion insertion hole 59 for the key top 100d, the pair of positioning projections 107 and the pair of projection insertion grooves 61 do not coincide with each other. I can't. The same applies to the other key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d. For example, since the key top 100c and the key top 100d are rotated by 90 °, the pair of positioning projections 107 and the pair of projection insertion grooves 61 coincide with each other. Since the display part 109 of the key top 100c or the key top 100d has directionality, it can be easily recognized by visual observation that the direction has changed by 90 °, and there is no problem (the mutual position is directional). Those who are mistaken for correctness are hard to understand visually). In order to prevent erroneous insertion of the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d in any rotation direction, the central axis of the switch pressing portion 105 of the pair of positioning projections 107 protruding from the switch pressing portion 105 What is necessary is just to make all the protrusion angles to the radial direction from different.

  Then, the key top holder 50 having the key tops 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d attached thereon is placed on the switch substrate 10 to which the reversing plate 40 is attached. If it inserts in each positioning hole 71 of the top holding body 50, the switch body 1 with a key top shown in FIG. 1 will be completed. The above assembling procedure is an example, and it goes without saying that the assembly may be performed using other various assembling procedures.

  6 and 7 are enlarged schematic cross-sectional views in different cross sections of the key top 100d portion of the switch body 1 with the key top assembled as described above. The other key tops 100a, 100b, and 100c have the same structure. As shown in both figures, the lower end surface of the switch pressing portion 105 of the key top 100d is in contact with the upper surface of the reversing plate 40, and therefore slightly protrudes from the lower end surface of the switch pressing portion 105 as shown in FIG. The lower end of the noise suppressing projection 63 is a little pressed against the upper surface of the reversing plate 40 and is in contact with elasticity.

  When the upper surface of the key top 100d is pressed downward, the key top 100d is lowered due to the deflection of the flexible portion 57, and the switch pressing portion 105 presses the reverse plate 40 to reverse it. The central portion descends and comes into contact with the switch pattern 15a, and the switch 15 is turned on. When the pressure on the key top 100d is released, the reversing plate 40 and the flexure 57 are automatically restored to the original shape, the key top 100d is raised, and the switch 15 is turned off.

  When the switch 15 is turned on / off by the key top 100d, the tip of the noise-controlling projection 63 around the switch pressing portion 105 is in contact (elastic contact) with the upper surface of the reversing plate 40. Sounds and vibrations to be generated when 40 reverses or returns to the original shape are suppressed or absorbed, and a click sensation is produced, but sounds and excessive vibrations are attenuated and prevented. This effect is particularly effective for suppressing sound and vibration generated from the reversing plate 40 when the reversing plate 40 is installed on the upper portion of the switch 15 as in this embodiment. Non-installed switch (for example, a membrane switch with a structure in which two synthetic resin films are overlapped and switch patterns provided on opposing surfaces are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween, and no inversion plate is installed) It can also be applied to. Further, since the noise suppressing projection 63 is formed as a part of the key top holding body 50, the number of parts does not increase, the number of assembling steps does not increase, and it can be produced easily and at low cost. In this embodiment, since the noise suppressing projection 63 is separated into two parts by two notches 65, the force that presses the switch 15 (reversing plate 40) is a complete cylinder without both notches 65. This is suitable because it is moderately weaker than the noise-controlling projection and has an appropriate elasticity.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible. It should be noted that any shape, structure, and material not directly described in the specification and drawings are within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and advantages of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a pair of positioning protrusions are provided on each key top, but a plurality of one or three or more may be provided. In the above-described embodiment, the lower end (tip) of the key-top positioning protrusion inserted into the protrusion insertion groove of the key-top holder is heat-caulked, but in some cases, the heat-caulking may be omitted. In the above-described embodiment, the lower end (tip) of the noise-controlling projection is positioned below the lower end (tip) of the switch pressing portion that is inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole. However, both lower ends may be positioned at the same position. . In addition, since the switch (especially the reversing plate) is slightly repressed when the lower end of the noise suppression projection is positioned lower than the lower end of the switch pressing portion, the sound suppression effect is greater.

It is a perspective view of the switch body 1 with a key top. It is a disassembled perspective view of the switch body 1 with a key top. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the switch body 1 with a key top from the lower side. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible switch substrate 11. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a key top 100a attached to a key top holding body 50. FIG. It is an expansion schematic sectional drawing of the part of the keytop 100d of the switch body 1 with a keytop. It is an expansion schematic sectional drawing of a different part from FIG. 6 of the key top 100d of the switch body 1 with a key top. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a part of a key top 100a attached to the key top holding body 50 as viewed from below. It is a principal part expansion perspective view which shows the state which carried out the heat crimping of the protrusion 107 for positioning shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch body with a key top 10 Switch board 11 Flexible switch board 15 Switch 15a, 15b Switch pattern 30 Board mounting base 40 Inversion board 50 Key top holding body 59 Press part insertion hole 61 Projection part insertion groove 63 Sound control protrusion 65 Notch 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d Key top 105 Switch pressing portion 107 Positioning projection 110 Key top body

Claims (2)

A switch board provided with a plurality of switches on the upper surface, a key top holder made of rubber-like elastic material installed on the switch board, and a plurality of key tops attached on the key top holder,
Each of the key tops has a structure in which a switch pressing portion protrudes in a pressing direction from a key top body having substantially the same shape and different indexes.
In a switch body with a key top, wherein the switch pressing portion of each key top is inserted into each pressing portion insertion hole provided in the key top holding body, and the tips of the switch pressing portions are respectively opposed to the plurality of switches. ,
At least one pair of positioning projections projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the switch pressing portion of each key top in a direction orthogonal to the pressing direction, and around each pressing portion insertion hole of the key top holder Providing a protrusion insertion groove to insert the positioning protrusion of each key top,
A switch body with a key top, wherein the protruding direction of the pair of positioning projections of each key top is varied according to the key top. The switch body with a key top according to claim 1,
Around the pressing portion insertion hole on the lower surface of the key top holding body, a noise-controlling projection protruding downward is provided, and the lower end of the noise-controlling projection is connected to the lower end of the switch pressing portion that is inserted into the pressing portion insertion hole. A switch body with a key top, wherein the switch body is located at the same position or below it.

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