JP2013114877A - Non-contact switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact switch which can improve assemblability by reducing the number of components.SOLUTION: A non-contact switch 1 comprises: a bias magnet 4 generating a bias magnetic field; a Hall element (semiconductor magnetic element) 3 arranged in the bias magnetic field generated by the bias magnet 4 for converting bias magnetic field alteration into an electric signal; a substrate 5 to which the Hall element 3 is electrically connected; and terminals 9, 11 to which the substrate 5 is electrically connected. The non-contact switch 1 detects the bias magnetic field alteration caused by access of a detection object of a magnetic substance and outputs electric signals from the terminals 11 via the substrate 5. The non-contact switch 1 further comprises a resin holding member 6 holding the Hall element 3, the bias magnet 4 and the substrate 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact switch that detects the position of an object to be detected made of a magnetic material by changing a bias magnetic field.

  For example, a contact point mechanical switch is known as a position detection switch for detecting a neutral position and a back position of an automobile transmission. However, this mechanical switch has a heavy operation feeling and has a limited number of times of durability. There are problems such as.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to use a non-contact non-contact switch that detects the position of an object to be detected made of a magnetic material by changing a bias magnetic field. Patent Document 1 discloses a rotation detection device that detects the rotation of a rotating body in a non-contact manner by applying the Hall effect.

  As a method of detecting an object to be detected by a non-contact switch, a semiconductor magnetic element such as a Hall element that detects a Hall voltage or a magnetoresistive element that detects a change in resistance is arranged in a bias magnetic field generated by a fixed bias magnet. There is a method in which a change produced in a bias magnetic field due to the approach of an object to be detected is detected by a semiconductor magnetic element.

  Regarding a non-contact switch using such a detection method, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a semiconductor magnetic element (Hall IC) and a bias magnet are resin-molded.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to facilitate the management of the air gap between the magnetoresistive element and the object to be detected (magnetic rotor), a bent portion is formed on the external terminal (terminal), and the magnetoresistive An element holding member (mold material) for holding the element is urged toward the object to be detected through the through hole of the bias magnet by the bent portion of the external terminal, and the tip of the element holding member is a cap made of a nonmagnetic material. A configuration for abutting is proposed.

JP-A-8-338850 Japanese Patent No. 3170916

  However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the semiconductor magnetic element and the bias magnet are resin-molded, it is difficult to adjust the position of the semiconductor magnetic element and the bias magnet, and a board on which electronic components are mounted is not provided. In addition, there is a problem that it is necessary to amplify an electric signal from the semiconductor magnetic element other than the switch.

  Further, the configuration proposed in Patent Document 2 has problems such as difficulty in assembling parts and the need to form a bent portion in the external terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact switch capable of reducing the number of parts and improving the assemblability.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a bias magnet that generates a bias magnetic field, and a semiconductor magnetic element that is disposed within the bias magnetic field generated by the bias magnet and converts a change in the bias magnetic field into an electrical signal. And a substrate to which the semiconductor magnetic element is electrically connected, and a terminal to which the substrate is electrically connected, and detects the change in the bias magnetic field accompanying the approach of the detection object made of a magnetic material. In a non-contact switch that outputs a signal from the terminal through the substrate,
The semiconductor magnetic element, the bias magnet, and the substrate are held by a resin holding member.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is provided with a magnet positioning part for positioning the bias magnet and an element positioning part for positioning the semiconductor magnetic element. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a concave portion is formed on the front surface of the bias magnet facing the semiconductor magnetic element, and the magnet positioning portion of the holding member is fitted into the concave portion. The element positioning portion of the holding member is disposed inside the concave portion of the bias magnet assembled to the holding member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the holding member is formed with a locking portion that locks a resin-made terminal base that integrally holds the terminal. And a substrate positioning portion for positioning the substrate at a position of the holding member where the substrate is electrically connected to the terminal of the terminal base locked to the locking portion. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the holding member for holding the semiconductor magnetic element, the bias magnet, and the substrate is constituted by a single component, the number of components can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. Further, since the holding member is made of resin, it can be easily molded even if it has a complicated structure.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the magnet positioning portion and the element positioning portion are provided on the holding member, the bias magnet and the semiconductor magnetic element are accurately positioned with respect to the holding member by the magnet positioning portion and the element positioning portion. As a result, it is not necessary to perform bothersome position adjustment operations, and assemblability is improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the magnet positioning portion of the holding member is fitted into the concave portion of the bias magnet, and the element positioning portion is arranged inside the concave portion of the bias magnet with the bias magnet assembled to the holding member. Since it is configured to be provided, the bias magnet can be reliably fixed in a state where it is more accurately positioned with respect to the semiconductor magnetic element.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the terminal base is locked to the locking portion of the holding member in which the semiconductor magnetic element, the bias magnet, and the substrate are sub-assembled, whereby both are easily assembled. In addition, when the holding member and the terminal base are assembled, the board positioned by the board positioning portion of the holding member and the terminal are securely connected to each other, so that the assembly workability is improved and the number of assembly steps is reduced. .

It is a disassembled perspective view of the non-contact switch which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the non-contact switch concerning the present invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. It is a top view of the holding member of the non-contact switch concerning the present invention. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a bottom view of the holding member of the non-contact switch concerning the present invention. It is a top view of the bias magnet of the non-contact switch concerning the present invention. (A)-(e) is a top view which shows the various form of the bias magnet used for the non-contact switch which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the detection principle of the non-contact switch which concerns on this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is an exploded perspective view of a non-contact switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the non-contact switch, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the holding member, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the holding member, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of the bias magnet.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention holds a hall element 3 as a semiconductor magnetic element, a bias magnet 4 and a substrate 5 arranged on the back side thereof in a switch body 2. The holding member 6 is accommodated, and a part of the terminal base 7 is fitted and fixed from the rear end opening of the switch body 2. In the non-contact switch 1, the left side in FIGS. 2 to 4 is the front and the right side is the rear.

  The switch body 2 is integrally formed in a hexagonal nut shape by zinc die casting or the like, and a screw-like vehicle fixing portion 2a for attaching the non-contact switch 1 to the vehicle is formed at one end portion thereof. . Also, a bottomed cylindrical resin cap 8 is integrally attached to the inside of the front side of the switch body 2 by insert molding. The front end opening of the switch body 2 is closed by a cap 8. In this way, the front end opening of the switch body 2 facing the hall element 3 is closed by the cap 8, thereby preventing water and dust from entering the switch body 2, and the bias generated by the bias magnet 4. The magnetic field is not blocked by the switch body 2. Further, since the resin cap 8 is mounted inside the metal switch body 2 by insert molding, the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

  The holding member 6 includes a holding portion 6A and a pair of left and right arms 6B extending rearwardly from the holding portion 6A, and a front end portion of the holding portion 6A is a polygonal columnar block body. A certain magnet positioning portion 6a is formed, and a rectangular concave element positioning portion 6b is formed on the front end surface of the magnet positioning portion 6a.

  In addition, the holding portion 6A of the holding member 6 is formed with a magnet accommodating portion 6c that opens downward and on both sides, and as shown in FIG. 1, a circular vertical connecting the holding portion 6A and the arm portion 6B. A rectangular through hole 6e that is long in the horizontal direction is formed in the lower portion of the wall 6d. 6 and 7, a pair of left and right press-fit pins 6f and engaging claws 6g are integrally projected downward from the lower surface of the magnet positioning portion 6a of the holding member 6. As shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a board positioning portion 6h is formed at the front end portions of the left and right arm portions 6B of the holding member 6, and the outer portions of both arm portions 6B are shown in FIG. Thus, the latching claws 6i are respectively formed. As will be described later, the left and right locking claws 6 i constitute a locking portion for locking the terminal base 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, three terminals 9 are led out from the Hall element 3, and these terminals 9 extend downward from the Hall element 3 and then are bent at a right angle toward the rear. . The holding member 6 has the substrate positioning portion 6 h formed at a position where the substrate 5 is electrically connected to the three terminals 11 of the terminal base 7.

  The bias magnet 4 is a magnet that generates a bias magnetic field, and a concave portion 4A is formed along the outer shape of the magnet positioning portion 6a of the holding member 6 on the front surface facing the Hall element 3. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, a portion close to the bottom surface of the opposing inner wall surface of the recess 4A formed in the bias magnet 4 is a tapered surface 4a. The shape of the recess 4A formed in the bias magnet 4 may be as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (e). That is, an arcuate curved surface formed at the corner of the rectangular groove shown in FIG. 9 (a), an oval shape shown in FIG. 9 (b), a semicircular shape shown in FIG. 9 (c), The polygonal shape shown in FIG. 9D, the triangular shape shown in FIG.

  Thus, the Hall element 3 is fitted into the element positioning portion 6b formed on the front surface of the magnet positioning portion 6a of the holding member 6 as shown in FIGS. The terminal 9 passes through the through hole 6e formed in the vertical wall 6d of the holding member 6 and extends rearward.

  Further, the bias magnet 4 is fitted from below into the magnet housing portion 6c of the holding member 6 with the concave portion 4A fitted to the magnet positioning portion 6a of the holding member 6, and the holding member 6 is fitted to the periphery of the concave portion 4A on the lower surface. The holding member 6 is temporarily held by engaging the engaging claws 6g formed on the magnet positioning portion 6a. The bias magnet 4 is held on the holding member 6 by the lid 10 shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a concave groove 10 a for passing three terminals 9 extending from the hall element 3 is formed in the center in the width direction of the lid 10, and is formed on the left and right sides of the front end portion of the lid 10. A press-fitting groove 10b is formed, and engaging projections 10c are provided integrally on the left and right sides of the rear end portion in the rearward direction. Further, in a state where the bias magnet 4 is assembled to the holding member 6, the element positioning portion 6b is disposed inside the concave portion 4A of the bias magnet 4 as shown in FIG.

  Thus, the lid 10 has engaging protrusions 10c projecting on the left and right of the rear end portion thereof fitted in through holes 6e (see FIG. 1) formed in the vertical wall 6d of the holding member 6, and on the left and right of the front end portion. By inserting the left and right press-fitting pins 6f protruding from the magnet positioning part 6a of the holding member 6 into the formed press-fitting groove 10b, the magnet is accommodated in the lower part of the holding part 6A of the holding member 6 as shown in FIG. The lid 6 is attached so as to cover the portion 6c from below, and the Hall element 3 and the bias magnet 4 are held by the holding member 6 by the lid 10, and the falling from the holding member 6 is prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the substrate 5 is vertically attached to the substrate positioning portion 6 h formed on the holding member 6, and three penetrations formed laterally are formed below the substrate 5. Three terminals 9 extending from the Hall element 3 penetrate through the hole 5a (see FIG. 1) and are electrically connected to the substrate 5. As shown in FIG. 1, three through holes 5 b are formed in the upper part of the substrate 5 in the horizontal direction. When the substrate 5 is positioned and attached to the substrate positioning portion 6 h of the holding member 6, the substrate 5 Each terminal 11 passes through each through hole 5b and is electrically connected.

  By the way, in the actual assembly, the holding member 6 on which the Hall element 3, the bias magnet 4 and the substrate 5 are assembled as described above is fitted into the terminal base 7, and then the terminal base 7 and the holding member 6 together with the switch body 2. It is inserted into and fixed by caulking.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, since the concave portion 4A is formed on the front surface of the bias magnet 4 facing the Hall element 3, the element positioning portion 6b of the holding member 6 is in the concave portion 4A inside the front surface of the bias magnet 4. The Hall element 3 attached to the element positioning portion 6b is held so as to be separated from the bias magnet 4.

  The terminal base 7 is integrally formed with a rectangular cylindrical coupler portion 7A, and a flange portion 7B fitted to the inner peripheral portion of the switch body 2 is integrally formed at the front end portion of the coupler portion 7A. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, locking holes 7 a that are long in the circumferential direction are formed in the left and right sides of the tip of the terminal base 7. The terminal base 7 is provided with three terminals 11 on the left and right sides for outputting an electric signal generated by the substrate 5 to an external device. Here, each terminal 11 is accommodated in the terminal base 7 in a state of being bent in a crank shape, and one end of each terminal 11 is formed in the three through holes 5b (FIG. 1) formed in the lateral direction above the substrate 5. And is electrically connected to the substrate 5. Further, the other end of the terminal 11 projects into the coupler portion 7A of the terminal base 7.

  Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal base 7 has a flange portion 7B fitted into the switch body 2 from the rear end opening, and the rear end peripheral portion of the switch body 2 is caulked. It is fixed to the switch body 2.

  Next, the detection principle of the object 12 to be detected by the non-contact switch 1 configured as described above will be described based on the schematic diagram shown in FIG.

  In the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, the recess 4A is formed on the front surface of the bias magnet 4 facing the Hall element 3, and the Hall element 3 is disposed in the recess 4A so as not to protrude from the front surface of the bias magnet 4. The front surface of the bias magnet 4 protrudes forward from the back surface of the Hall element 3 by a thickness distance b of the Hall element 3, and a space of a distance a shown in the figure is formed behind the Hall element 3.

  By the way, a bias magnetic field is applied to the Hall element 3 by the bias magnet 4, and the Hall element 3 arranged in the bias magnetic field generated by the bias magnet 4 has a detected object 12 made of a magnetic material as a solid line in FIG. 10. Detects the change in the bias magnetic field when separated as shown by the dotted line and when approached as shown by the chain line, and compares the detected magnetic flux density with a preset magnetic flux density threshold value to turn on / off The switching operation is performed.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the Hall element 3 is held so as to be separated from the bias magnet 4 by the element positioning portion 6b of the holding member 6, and a certain distance a is secured between them as shown in FIG. Thus, the magnetic flux density of the bias magnetic field applied to the Hall element 3 can be reduced in the state shown in FIG. Therefore, the difference in magnetic flux density applied to the Hall element 3 when the object 12 is separated as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 and approached as shown by the chain line becomes significant, and the non-contact switch It is possible to easily set a magnetic flux density threshold for one switching.

  In the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, since the element positioning portion 6b of the holding member 6 is disposed in the recess 4A inside the front surface of the bias magnet 4, the thickness of the Hall element 3 is larger than that of the conventional case. The detected object 12 can be brought closer to the bias magnet 4 by the distance b. Therefore, the magnetic flux density applied to the Hall element 3 when the detected object 12 approaches as shown by a chain line in FIG. 10 can be increased, and the detected object 12 is indicated by a solid line in FIG. Thus, the difference in the magnetic flux density applied to the Hall element 3 between the state separated from the Hall element 3 and the state close as indicated by the chain line becomes significant, and this also causes the switching of the non-contact switch 1. Setting of the magnetic flux density threshold is facilitated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner wall surface of the recess 4A formed on the front surface of the bias magnet 4 facing the Hall element 3 is the tapered surface 4a. Distributed parallel to the front surface of the magnet 4. For this reason, even if the position of the Hall element 3 with respect to the bias magnet 4 varies slightly in the radial direction (XY axis direction when the longitudinal axis direction of the non-contact switch 1 is the Z axis), the magnetic field component does not change greatly. Since high mounting accuracy is not required, the assembling property of the Hall element 3 is improved.

  In the above, according to the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, the holding element 6 that holds the Hall element 3, the bias magnet 4, and the substrate 5 is composed of a single component, so that the number of components is reduced and the assemblability is improved. be able to. And since the holding member 6 is resin, even if it is a complicated structure, it can shape | mold easily.

  In the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, since the holding member 6 is provided with the magnet positioning portion 6a and the element positioning portion 6b, the magnet positioning portion 6a and the element positioning portion 6b allow the bias magnet 4 and the Hall element 3 to be Is accurately positioned with respect to the holding member 6, so that bothersome position adjustment work is not required and the assemblability is improved.

  Furthermore, according to the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, the magnet positioning portion 6a of the holding member 6 is fitted into the concave portion 4A of the bias magnet 4, and the element positioning is performed with the bias magnet 4 assembled to the holding member 6. Since the portion 6 b is configured to be disposed inside the concave portion 4 </ b> A of the bias magnet 4, the bias magnet 4 can be reliably fixed in a state where the bias magnet 4 is positioned more accurately with respect to the Hall element 3.

  Further, according to the non-contact switch 1 according to the present invention, the engaging claw 6i of the holding member 6 in which the Hall element 3, the bias magnet 4 and the substrate 5 are sub-assembled and the engaging hole 7a of the terminal base 7 are engaged. Both can be easily assembled by locking. When the holding member 6 and the terminal base 7 are assembled, the board 5 and the terminals 9 and 11 positioned by the board positioning portion 6h of the holding member 6 are securely connected to each other, so that the assembly workability is improved. Thus, the effect of reducing the number of assembly steps can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Non-contact switch 2 Switch body 2a Vehicle fixing | fixed part of switch body 3 Hall element (semiconductor magnetic element)
4 bias magnet 4A concave portion of bias magnet 4a tapered surface of concave portion of bias magnet 5 substrate 5a, 5b through hole of substrate 6 holding member 6A holding member holding portion 6B holding member arm portion 6a holding member magnet positioning portion 6b holding member Element positioning portion 6c magnet housing portion of holding member 6d vertical wall of holding member 6e through hole of holding member 6f press-fitting pin of holding member 6g engaging claw of holding member 6h holding member substrate positioning portion 6i holding member locking claw (Locking part)
7 Terminal Base 7A Terminal Base Coupler 7B Terminal Base Flange 7a Terminal Base Locking Hole 8 Cap 9 Terminal 10 Lid 10a Lid Groove 10b Lid Press-fit Groove 10c Lid Engaging Protrusion 11 Terminal 12 Detected Object 13 Magnetic material

Claims (4)

A bias magnet that generates a bias magnetic field, a semiconductor magnetic element that is disposed within the bias magnetic field generated by the bias magnet and converts a change in the bias magnetic field into an electrical signal, and a substrate to which the semiconductor magnetic element is electrically connected In a non-contact switch comprising a terminal to which the substrate is electrically connected, detecting a change in the bias magnetic field accompanying the approach of an object to be detected made of a magnetic material, and outputting an electric signal from the terminal through the substrate ,
A non-contact switch, wherein the semiconductor magnetic element, the bias magnet, and the substrate are held by a resin holding member.   The non-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is provided with a magnet positioning part for positioning the bias magnet and an element positioning part for positioning the semiconductor magnetic element.   A concave portion is formed on the front surface of the bias magnet facing the semiconductor magnetic element, the magnet positioning portion of the holding member is fitted into the concave portion, and the element positioning portion of the holding member is assembled to the holding member. The non-contact switch according to claim 2, wherein the non-contact switch is disposed in the concave portion of the bias magnet. The holding member is formed with a locking portion for locking the resin-made terminal base that integrally holds the terminal, and the substrate is electrically connected to the terminal of the terminal base locked to the locking portion. The non-contact switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a substrate positioning portion for positioning the substrate is provided at a position of the holding member to be connected in a general manner.

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