JP2016038334A - Switch spring, movement, and electronic clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch spring, movement, and electronic clock capable of reducing the number of assemblies and improving the assembling work.SOLUTION: A switch spring 40 is incorporated into an electronic clock, and is elastically deformed by a push button 60 operable from the outside to be connected to a connection terminal 32A of a circuit board 32. The switch spring 40 includes: an action part 47 on which the push button 60 is butted; a connection part 48 connected to the connection terminal 32A; and an extended intermediate part 491 that is disposed between the action part 47 and the connection part 48 and is extended so as to separate the action part 47 from the connection part 48 in the surface direction of the circuit board 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch spring, a movement, and an electronic timepiece.

Conventionally, an external case of an electronic timepiece is provided with a push button that can be connected to and separated from a switch spring of a movement mounted inside. When the switch spring is properly pressed by an external operation of the push button, the switch spring and the connection terminal on the circuit board of the movement are electrically connected to detect that the push button has been pushed.
And it is known that the button shaft of such a push button is composed of a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion that are screwed together in the axial direction (for example, Patent Document 1). A head operated by a user is provided on the proximal end side of the first shaft portion exposed to the outside of the exterior case, and the second shaft portion is screwed to the distal end side of the first shaft portion.

  According to Patent Literature 1, when the distance from the tip of the push button to the connection terminal of the circuit board differs for each model in the stroke direction when the push button is operated, the second axis having a length suitable for each model. This can be done by selecting a part and attaching it to the first shaft part which is a common part.

JP 2012-189521 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the push button is composed of two members, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the number of assembly parts increases. In addition, in order to stably hold the second shaft portion, an intermediate frame or the like is required, and the holding structure becomes complicated, which also increases the number of assembly parts and lowers assembly workability.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a switch spring that can reduce the number of assembly parts and improve assembly workability, a movement incorporating the switch spring, and an electronic timepiece equipped with the movement.

  The switch spring of the present invention is a switch spring incorporated in an electronic timepiece, elastically deformed by a push button that can be operated externally, and connected to a connection terminal of a circuit board, and an action portion on which the push button abuts. A connection part connected to the connection terminal, and an extension provided between the action part and the connection part, and extending so as to separate the action part and the connection part from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board And an intermediate portion.

According to the present invention, the switch spring has the extending intermediate portion that separates the action portion and the connection portion from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board, for example, the axial direction of the push button. When arranged at a position that can contact the connection terminal, the action portion can be arranged at a position away from the connection terminal of the circuit board, that is, on the outer case side. Therefore, even if the distance from the push button arranged on the exterior case to the connection terminal of the circuit board is long, the action portion can be arranged near the push button by providing the extended intermediate portion, and the push button is pushed. In this case, the connection portion can be brought into contact with the connection terminal to be connected by contacting the action portion.
Further, even if the distance from the push button to the connection terminal of the circuit board varies depending on the model, it is possible to cope with each model by using a switch spring having an extended intermediate portion having a length suitable for each model. For this reason, it is not necessary to construct and assemble the push button with two members in order to correspond to each model, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of assembly parts of the push button, and to improve the assembly workability.

In the switch spring of the present invention, a base end is supported by a circuit holder for attaching the circuit board to the ground plane, and a support arm part extending along an outer periphery of the circuit board, and supported by the support arm part. A switch piece, and the switch piece includes the action portion provided on one end side in the front and back direction of the circuit board, the connection portion provided on the other end side, and the action portion and the connection portion. Preferably, the intermediate portion includes the extended intermediate portion and a connecting intermediate portion connected to the support arm portion.
According to the present invention, the switch piece is configured by connecting the action part and the connection part that are separated in the front and back direction of the circuit board at the intermediate part. The intermediate portion of the switch piece includes a connection intermediate portion connected to the support arm portion and an extended intermediate portion extended from the connection intermediate portion. Then, by pushing the push button in contact with the action portion, the connecting portion between the support arm portion and the switch piece is used as a fulcrum, and the switch spring can be elastically deformed in the direction of twisting around the fulcrum. . For this reason, even after the connection portion is connected to the connection terminal in the initial posture, the push of the push button is allowed and the switch spring can be further elastically deformed. Therefore, the connection portion can be more reliably connected to the connection terminal, and even if the push button is pushed in with a longer stroke amount, the switch spring and the push button can be prevented from being damaged.

In the switch spring of the present invention, the switch piece has two bent portions, the extended intermediate portion is formed between the two bent portions, and one bent portion is formed with respect to the extended intermediate portion. The action portion is formed in a planar portion continuous through a curved portion, and the connecting intermediate portion is formed in a planar portion continuous through the other bent portion with respect to the extended intermediate portion, It is preferable that the connection portion is formed in a planar portion that is continuous to the opposite side of the other bent portion of the connection intermediate portion.
According to the present invention, the entire switch piece can be crank-shaped and can be easily formed by step bending or the like. In addition, since both the action part and the connection part are formed to include a planar portion having a predetermined area, even if the action part is an end part of a push button having a small contact area, the end part is connected to the action part. The connection portion can be formed into a shape that can be contacted to the connection terminal by line contact or point contact by subjecting the planar portion to half piercing processing or projection processing.

In the switch spring of the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting portion has a protruding portion protruding toward the connecting terminal.
According to the present invention, since the connecting portion of the switch spring is connected to the connecting terminal of the circuit board by the point contact or the line contact by the protruding portion, the connecting portion and the connecting terminal can be reliably connected with a large contact pressure. This makes it difficult to generate an ambiguous connection state and makes the switching operation by the push button operation responsive and sensitive.

The movement of the present invention is a movement mounted on an electronic timepiece, and includes a ground plane, a circuit board provided with a control circuit for controlling driving of a display device on which time information is displayed, and the circuit board as the ground plane. A circuit holder to be attached, and a switch spring provided integrally with the circuit holder and elastically deformed by a push button operable externally and connected to a connection terminal of the circuit board, the switch spring having the push button An action part to be contacted, a connection part to be connected to the connection terminal, and the action part and the connection part are provided between the action part and the connection part so that the action part and the connection part are separated from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board. And an extended intermediate portion that extends to the center.
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above-described switch spring.

In the movement according to the aspect of the invention, the circuit retainer includes a plurality of the switch springs, and each of the switch springs is supported at a base end of the circuit retainer of the circuit board and extends along the circuit board. A support arm portion; and a switch piece supported by the support arm portion, wherein the switch piece is provided on one end side in the front and back direction of the circuit board, and the action portion provided on the other end side. A connecting portion; and an intermediate portion provided between the action portion and the connecting portion, and the intermediate portion includes the extending intermediate portion and a connecting intermediate portion connected to the support arm portion. It is preferable.
According to the present invention, for example, a switch spring that is supported at an outer edge position in the 9 o'clock direction of the timepiece of the circuit holder and extends in the 8 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board from the outer edge position, and a 9 in the circuit holder. A switch spring supported at the outer edge position in the time direction and extending from the outer edge position along the outer periphery of the circuit board in the 10 o'clock direction, and supported at the outer edge position in the 3 o'clock direction of the circuit retainer. A switch spring extending in the 2 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the board and a 3 o'clock outer edge position in the circuit retainer, and extending in the 4 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board from the outer edge position. By providing the switch spring, a movement for an electronic timepiece having a maximum of four push buttons can be provided.

An electronic timepiece according to the present invention is equipped with any of the movements described above.
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the movement invention.

The schematic plan view which looked at the electronic timepiece concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the surface side. The top view which looked at the said electronic timepiece from the back surface side in the state which removed the back cover. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the movement mounted in the said electronic timepiece. Sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the switch spring integrated in the said electronic timepiece.

[Schematic configuration of electronic watch]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic timepiece according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electronic timepiece as viewed from the back side with the back cover removed. .

  1 and 2, an electronic timepiece 10 includes a cylindrical outer case 20, a movement 30 mounted inside the outer case 20, a cover glass (not shown) that closes an opening on the surface side of the outer case 20, A back cover (not shown) that closes the opening on the back surface side and a dial 11 arranged inside the cover glass are provided. In addition, the electronic timepiece 10 of the present embodiment has a chronograph function.

  The dial 11 is provided with hands 12, 13, and 14. Further, the dial 11 has a first small window 70 and a pointer 71 that are circular in the 2 o'clock direction from a center, and a second small window 80 and a pointer 81 that is circular in the 10 o'clock direction are circular in the 6 o'clock direction. The third small window 90 and the pointer 91 are provided with a rectangular calendar small window 15 in the 4 o'clock direction. The dial 11, the pointers 12, 13, and 14, the first small window 70, the second small window 80, the third small window 90, the calendar small window 15, and the like are visible through the cover glass.

  A calendar wheel (date wheel) 16 is arranged on the back side of the dial 11, and the calendar wheel 16 has a numerical portion indicating a printed date visible from the calendar small window 15. Further, the display device 10 </ b> A of the electronic timepiece 10 is configured by the dial plate 11 and the plurality of hands 12, 13, 14, 71, 81, 91 indicating different time information.

[Description of display device]
Although detailed illustration is omitted about the time information which 10A of display apparatuses display, the example is demonstrated below. On the outermost periphery of the dial 11, for example, a scale that divides the outer periphery into 60 divisions and a 1/5 scale that divides the scale into 5 divisions are written. Using this scale, the hand 12 displays “second” of the chronograph function, the hand 13 displays “minute” of the internal clock, and the hand 14 displays “hour” of the internal clock.

  On the outer periphery of the circular first small window 70 provided on the dial 11, for example, a scale that divides the outer periphery into 60 divisions and numbers in increments of 10 from “10” to “60” are written. The pointer 71 displays “minute” of the chronograph function using this scale.

  On the outer periphery of the circular second small window 80 provided on the dial 11, for example, a scale that divides the outer periphery into 60 divisions and numbers from “0” to “11” are written. The pointer 81 displays “second” of the internal clock using this scale.

  On the outer circumference corresponding to the half circumference portion of the circular third small window 90 provided on the dial 11, for example, a scale dividing the outer circumference into six and numbers from “0” to “5” are written. The pointer 91 displays “hour” of the chronograph function using this scale. In the remaining half-circle portion, a scale for displaying the status indicating the mode in which the electronic timepiece 10 is used is shown.

  As described above, the hour, minute and second are displayed using the hands 14, 13, 81 as the function of the internal clock, and 5 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds using the hands 12, 71, 91 in the chronograph function. It is possible to count and display the time.

[Description of exterior case]
The exterior case 20 is configured by fitting a bezel 22 made of ceramic to a cylindrical case 21 made of metal. A disc-shaped dial 11 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the bezel 22 via a ring-shaped dial ring 23 made of plastic.

  Four push buttons 60 (61 to 64) are provided on the side surface of the outer case 20 so as to be able to be pushed against a spring force such as a coil spring (not shown). Specifically, as the push button 60, the A button 61 arranged at the 8 o'clock position from the center of the dial 11, the B button 62 arranged at the 10 o'clock position, and the 2 o'clock position. There is a C button 63 arranged at the position 4 and a D button 64 arranged at a position in the 4 o'clock direction. In addition, a crown 65 is provided on the side surface of the exterior case 20 at a position in the 3 o'clock direction. By operating these A button 61, B button 62, C button 63, D button 64, and crown 65, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output to the control circuit of the circuit board 32 described later.

  Then, by operating the C button 63 and the D button 64, it is possible to switch functions such as driving start, driving stop and reset of the hands 91, 71 and 12 indicating the minutes and seconds when the control circuit is in the chronograph function. It is. That is, the control circuit controls the drive of the display device 10A so as to be switchable. The A button 61 and the B button 62 are not particularly limited. For example, when the electronic timepiece 10 is a so-called radio timepiece that receives a radio wave (satellite signal) from a GPS satellite and corrects the internal time, a satellite signal is used. It is provided to set ON / OFF of automatic reception.

[Description of movement]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the movement mounted on the electronic timepiece. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view seen from the arrow IV-IV in FIG. 2 and is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the switch spring incorporated in the electronic timepiece.

  3 and 4, the movement 30 includes a main body 31 to which the display device 10A (FIG. 1) is attached, and a circuit board 32 that is attached to the main body 31 and provided with a control circuit that controls the driving of the display device 10A. And a circuit retainer 33 for attaching the circuit board 32 to the ground plate 34 (FIG. 4) of the main body 31.

  The main body 31 includes a base plate 34, a base plate receiving ring 35 that supports the base plate 34, a plurality of unillustrated wheel trains incorporated in the base plate 34, and the pointers 12, 13, 14, 71, described above via these wheel trains. A step motor (not shown) that rotates and drives 81 and 91, a rechargeable battery 36 such as a lithium ion battery that supplies power to the step motor, and the rechargeable battery 36 is charged between the main plate 34 and the dial plate 11. It includes a solar panel (not shown) that generates electric power.

  Here, the plurality of wheel trains constitute first to sixth drive mechanisms. The first driving mechanism drives the hands 13 and 14 indicating the “minute” and “hour” of the internal clock. Also, the pointer 12, the pointer 71 of the first small window 70, the pointer 81 of the second small window 80, and the pointer 91 of the third small window 90 shown in FIG. 1 are driven by the same drive mechanism. That is, the second drive mechanism drives the pointer 12 indicating “1/5 second” of the chronograph function, the third drive mechanism drives the pointer 71 indicating “minute” of the chronograph function, and the fourth drive mechanism. Drives the pointer 81 indicating “second” of the internal clock, the fifth driving mechanism drives the pointer 91 indicating “hour” of the chronograph function, and the sixth driving mechanism is visually recognized from the calendar small window 15. The calendar wheel 16 is driven.

  In addition to a control circuit that controls driving of the display device 10A, the circuit board 32 includes a receiving device (GPS module), a control device, a storage device, and the like when the electronic timepiece 10 is a radio timepiece. The circuit board 32 is connected to an antenna body 37 (FIG. 4) that receives radio waves from GPS satellites.

  The circuit retainer 33 integrally includes switch springs 40 (41 to 44) that are elastically deformed by externally operable A to D buttons 61 to 64 and electrically connected to the connection terminals 32A of the circuit board 32. . That is, the switch spring 40 is a component incorporated in the electronic timepiece 10 together with the circuit board 32 and the circuit holder 33, is made of metal and has conductivity, and when the A to D buttons 61 to 64 are operated and pushed, The end portions of the A to D buttons 61 to 64 are in contact with each other, elastically deformed inward, connected to the connection terminal 32A, and switch input is performed. The shape and operation of the switch spring 40 will be described in detail below.

[Description of switch spring]
2 to 4, the switch spring 40 is a switch spring whose base end is supported at the outer edge position in the 9 o'clock direction of the circuit retainer 33, and whose distal end extends in the 8 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board 32. 41 and the switch spring 41, on the contrary, the switch spring 42 whose tip extends in the 10 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board 32 and the base end are supported at the outer edge position of the circuit retainer 33 in the 3 o'clock direction. In contrast to the switch spring 43 whose tip extends in the 2 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board 32, the tip extends in the 4 o'clock direction along the outer periphery of the circuit board 32. There are four with the switch spring 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch spring 40 is supported by the circuit retainer 33 with the base end bent from the circuit retainer 33 and extends along the outer periphery of the circuit board 32. The switch arm 46 is supported on the end side (the tip in this embodiment) of the support arm 45 and is pushed by the push button 60. Such a switch spring 40 is elastically deformed in the surface direction of the circuit board 32 (the axial direction of the push button 60) according to the movement of the push button 60 during the pushing operation. In the present embodiment, the four switch springs 41 to 44 are elastically deformed by the A to D buttons 61 to 64, respectively.

  The support arm portion 45 of the switch spring 40 is a portion that supports the switch piece 46 so as to be elastically deformable. Accordingly, the switch piece 46 may be provided at a position slightly closer to the base end from the distal end of the support arm portion 45, and the distal end of the support arm portion 45 may extend beyond the switch piece 46. In this case, such an extended portion does not function as a portion that supports the switch piece 46. Instead, the amount of elastic deformation of the support arm portion 45 is regulated by bringing the extended portion into contact with the ground plane 34, or the drag force by the support arm portion 45 when the switch piece 46 is pushed in by the push button 60 is suppressed. It may be strengthened.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the switch piece 46 of the switch spring 40 extends along the front and back direction of the circuit board 32 and is provided on one end side (front side of the electronic timepiece 10) in the front and back direction. The action part 47 with which the end part of the button 60 abuts, the connection part 48 provided on the other end side in the front and back direction (the back side of the electronic timepiece 10) and connected to the connection terminal 32A, the action part 47 and the connection It has between the part 48, and has the intermediate part 49 which makes these continue. Here, the front and back direction is the same as the thickness direction of the electronic timepiece 10.

  Two bent portions 51 and 52 are provided between the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 of the switch piece 46. The bent part 51 forms a boundary between the action part 47 and the intermediate part 49. The bent portion 52 includes an extended intermediate portion 491 in which the intermediate portion 49 extends in the surface direction of the circuit board 32 (axial direction of the push button 60), and the front and back direction of the circuit board 32 (thickness direction of the electronic timepiece 10). And bisect to the connecting middle part 492 along the line. The connecting intermediate portion 492 is connected to the tip of the support arm portion 45. These two bent portions 51 and 52 form one crank-shaped stepped bent portion 50. The stepped bending portion 50 may be formed by a single bending process using a press machine or the like, or may be formed by bending the bent portions 51 and 52 separately.

  In the present embodiment, the action portion 47 is formed including the planar portion on the lower side in FIG. 4 (the surface side of the electronic timepiece 10) that is continuous with the extended intermediate portion 491 through one bent portion 51. Yes. In addition, a connecting intermediate portion 492 is formed including a planar portion on the upper side in FIG. 4 (the back side of the electronic timepiece 10) that is continuous with the extended intermediate portion 491 through the other bent portion 52. A connecting portion 48 is formed by the planar portion.

The electronic timepiece 10 is an analog type having a chronograph function, but a direct key is constituted by a switch spring 40 that makes line contact or point contact with the connection terminal 32A.
At this time, in order to realize an accurate and sensitive switch input, the connection portion 48 protrudes in an arc shape (FIGS. 2 and 3) in a plan view toward the connection terminal 32A and is formed to be long in the vertical direction. It has a protruding portion 481, and makes line contact with the connection terminal 32 </ b> A formed on the side surface of the circuit board 32 through the protruding portion 481. However, the connection portion may be projected in a spherical shape, and the connection portion may be point-contacted with the connection terminal.

  Note that the connection portion 48 slightly protrudes toward the connection terminal 32 </ b> A with respect to the intermediate portion 49 in a cross-sectional view in the direction shown in FIG. 4, and has a shape that separates the distance from the action portion 47. . However, such a shape is intended to realize a line contact with a large contact pressure with the connection terminal 32A, and constitutes a direct key that is sensitive to the switch input and is thus connected to the action part. It does not act as an extended intermediate portion of the present invention for the purpose of separating the portion.

  The extended intermediate portion 491 formed between the bent portions 51 and 52 of the intermediate portion 49 extends so that the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 are separated from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board 32. This is the most characteristic configuration of the switch spring 40 in the embodiment. The extended intermediate portion 491 acts to fill the distance between the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48. Therefore, when the distance between the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 differs depending on the model of the electronic timepiece 10, the push button 60 is conventionally formed by forming the extended intermediate portion 491 having a length suitable for the distance. It is possible to use one member as it is without adding a shaft portion such as.

Next, the movement of the push button 60 and the switch spring 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
The user of the electronic timepiece 10 pushes the push button 60 toward the right in FIG. 4 by an external operation.

  In this process, the push button 60 first moves from the initial position by the initial stroke IS, thereby coming into contact with the action portion 47 of the switch piece 46. After that, the support arm portion 45 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the switch spring 40 is elastically deformed until the push button 60 moves the distance of the switching stroke SS from the initial position while being in contact with the switch piece. 46 moves to the circuit board 32 side while maintaining the initial posture. When the push button 60 moves the distance of the switching stroke SS from the initial position, the connection portion 48 of the switch piece 46 is connected to the connection terminal 32A by line contact, and switch input is performed (the switch piece 46A in FIG. (Dotted line)

  Here, in the present embodiment, the push button 60 can be further moved by the distance of the overstroke OS in order to securely connect the connection portion 48 to the connection terminal 32A. That is, the push button 60 can be pushed by a distance of the full stroke FS (switching stroke SS + overstroke OS) from the initial position. At this time, in the switch piece 46, an action part 47, an intermediate part 49, and a connection part 48 are formed along the front and back direction of the circuit board 32, respectively, and the tip of the support arm part 45 is positioned at the connection intermediate part 491 of the intermediate part 49. When the push button 60 is pushed to the position of the full stroke FS, the connecting portion of the support arm 45 in the switch piece 46 becomes a fulcrum until the push button 60 reaches the full stroke FS. 46, the action part 47 side moves further to the back side, the connection part 48 side connected to the connection terminal 32A tilts to the push button 60 side, and the entire switch piece 46 is inclined to connect to the connection part 48. The connection state with the terminal 32A is maintained (indicated by a two-dot chain line as the switch piece 46B in FIG. 4).

  That is, in the overstroke OS portion, the switch piece 46 is elastically deformed so as to be twisted in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow A with the intermediate portion 49 supported by the support arm portion 45 as a fulcrum, and is connected to the connection terminal 32A. The movement of the push button 60 up to the full stroke FS is allowed while maintaining the state. Then, by stopping the pushing of the push button 60, the push button 60 returns to the initial position by the restoring force of the coil spring (not shown), and the switch spring 40 also returns to the initial position.

  Note that the push amount of the push button 60 indicated by the switching stroke SS is determined in consideration of the deformation state and spring force of the switch spring 40 when the switch is input. Further, as in this embodiment, the spring force of the switch spring 40 configured as a direct key is switched by the weight of the switch piece 46 in a drop test or the like performed with the portion where the push button 60 is provided upward. Is set so that is not entered.

[Effects of Embodiment]
The electronic timepiece 10 of the present embodiment described above has the following effects.
That is, the switch piece 46 of the switch spring 40 is provided with an extended intermediate portion 491 that separates the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board 32. The intermediate portion 491 can be formed to have a shape extending greatly along the surface direction between the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48. Therefore, even if the distance from the end of the push button 60 to the connection terminal 32 </ b> A of the circuit board 32 is long, the action portion 47 can be arranged near the end of the push button 60, and when the push button 60 is pressed, the action portion The contact part 48 can be brought into contact with the connection terminal 32 </ b> A and can be reliably connected.
Further, even if the distance from the end of the push button 60 to the connection terminal 32A of the circuit board 32 is different for each model, the switch spring 40 having the extended intermediate portion 491 having a length suitable for each model is used. It can correspond to each model. For this reason, there is no need to assemble the push button with two members, the increase in the number of assembly parts of the push button 60 can be prevented, and the assembly workability can be improved.

  When the push button 60 is pushed into contact with the action portion 47, the connecting portion of the support arm portion 45 and the switch piece 46 is used as a fulcrum, and the switch piece 46 of the switch spring 40 is twisted around the fulcrum. It can be elastically deformed. For this reason, even after the connection portion 48 is connected to the connection terminal 32A in the initial posture, the push spring 60 can be allowed to be pushed and the switch spring 40 can be further elastically deformed. Therefore, the connection portion 48 can be more reliably connected to the connection terminal 32A, and the switch spring 40 can be prevented from being damaged even when the push button 60 is pushed to the full stroke FS distance.

  Since the switch piece 46 has a crank shape having the step bending portion 50, the entire switch piece 46 can be easily formed by step bending or the like. In addition, since both the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 are formed of a planar portion having a predetermined area, the action portion 47 may be an end portion of the push button 60 having a small contact area. The end portion can be reliably brought into contact with the action portion 47. Moreover, in the connection part 48, the protrusion part 481 which can be contacted by the line contact or the point contact with respect to the connection terminal 32A can be formed by performing a half piercing process and a projection process to a planar part.

  Since the connecting portion 48 of the switch spring 40 is connected to the connecting terminal 32A via the protruding portion 481 protruding to the connecting terminal 32A side, the connecting portion 48 is connected to the connecting terminal 32A by line contact or point contact. be able to. Therefore, the connection portion 48 and the connection terminal 32A can be reliably connected with a large contact pressure, and it is difficult to generate an ambiguous connection state, and the switching operation by the operation of the push button 60 can be made responsive and sensitive. A so-called direct key can be configured.

  Although the electronic timepiece 10 is an analog type having a chronograph function, a direct key is configured by a switch spring 40 that makes a line contact or a point contact with the connection terminal 32 </ b> A. The chronograph hands 12, 71, 91 can be driven instantaneously, stopped instantaneously, or reset instantaneously. Therefore, the electronic timepiece 10 with high operability of the chronograph function can be realized.

Even if the distance between the end of the push button 60 and the connection terminal 32A differs depending on the model, the circuit board 32 is common and it is not necessary to manufacture circuit boards having different sizes. Therefore, since the circuit board 32 is not increased in size, more circuit boards 32 can be taken out from the substrate material having a predetermined size, and the yield can be improved.
In addition, since the circuit board 32 is not enlarged, the circuit board 32 can be stably attached to the ground plane 34.

  Since the push button 60 does not need a longer one, the movement 30 can be easily and quickly assembled into the outer case 20 to which the push button 60 is attached without interfering with the push button 60. Can be improved.

[Modification]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the switch piece 46 of the switch spring 40 is provided with two bent portions 51 and 52, thereby forming one step bent portion 50. As an alternative, only the bent portion 52 may be provided, or the switch piece 46 may be L-shaped, and the push button 60 may be brought into contact with the end surface of the extended intermediate portion 491. Even in such a configuration, by providing the extended intermediate portion 491, the action portion and the connection portion can be separated from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board, and the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the action portion 47 and the connection portion 48 of the switch spring 40 are spaced apart from each other at the same position in the circumferential direction of the circuit board 32 and in the front and back direction of the circuit board 32. For example, they may be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the circuit board 32. In other words, since the action part and the connection part in the present invention need only be separated from each other even in the surface direction of the circuit board by the extended intermediate part, they are separated in the front and back direction of the circuit board or in the circumferential direction. It is optional.

  In addition, the connecting portion has a predetermined area when it is not necessary to make a line contact or a point contact with the connection terminal, in addition to being formed in an arc shape in a plan view and formed in the vertical direction or in a spherical shape. It may be formed by a planar portion having

In the above embodiment, the electronic timepiece of the present invention has been described as an analog type. However, the electronic timepiece may be a digital type that displays time information on a liquid crystal display device. It may be combined.
Further, even in the case of an analog type, the chronograph function is not an essential configuration, and the present invention may be applied to a normal three-hand type electronic timepiece.
In addition, although a radio timepiece that receives radio waves from GPS satellites is used as an electronic timepiece, it may be one that receives standard radio waves, or the present invention may be applied to an electronic timepiece that does not receive radio waves.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic timepiece, 10A ... Display apparatus, 11 ... Dial, 12, 13, 14, 71, 81, 91 ... Pointer, 30 ... Movement, 31 ... Main part, 32 ... Circuit board, 32A ... Connection terminal, 33 ... Circuit holder, 34 ... Ground plate, 40 ... Switch spring, 47 ... Working part, 48 ... Connecting part, 49 ... Intermediate part, 50 ... Bent part, 51,52 ... Bent part, 60 ... Push button, 61 ... Push button A button, 62 ... B button as a push button, 63 ... C button as a push button, 64 ... D button as a push button, 491 ... extended intermediate part.

Claims (7)

A switch spring incorporated in an electronic watch and elastically deformed by a push button that can be operated externally and connected to a connection terminal of a circuit board,
An action portion against which the push button is brought into contact;
A connection portion connected to the connection terminal;
An extension intermediate portion provided between the action portion and the connection portion and extending so as to separate the action portion and the connection portion from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board. Switch spring to do. The switch spring according to claim 1,
A support arm portion that is supported by a circuit holder for attaching the circuit board to the ground plane and that extends along the outer periphery of the circuit board;
A switch piece supported by the support arm,
The switch piece includes the action part provided on one end side in the front and back direction of the circuit board, the connection part provided on the other end side, and an intermediate part provided between the action part and the connection part. And
The intermediate part includes the extended intermediate part and a connecting intermediate part connected to the support arm part. The switch spring according to claim 2, wherein
The switch piece has two bent portions,
The extended intermediate portion is formed between the two bent portions,
The action portion is formed in a planar portion that is continuous through one bent portion with respect to the extended intermediate portion,
The connecting intermediate portion is formed in a planar portion continuous through the other bent portion with respect to the extending intermediate portion,
The switch spring is characterized in that the connection portion is formed by a planar portion that is continuous to the opposite side of the other bent portion of the connecting intermediate portion. The switch spring according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The connection spring has a protrusion that protrudes toward the connection terminal. A movement mounted on an electronic watch,
With the main plate,
A circuit board provided with a control circuit for controlling driving of a display device on which time information is displayed;
A circuit retainer for attaching the circuit board to the ground plane;
A switch spring provided integrally with the circuit retainer and elastically deformed by a push button operable externally and connected to a connection terminal of the circuit board;
The switch spring is
An action portion against which the push button is brought into contact;
A connection portion connected to the connection terminal;
An extension intermediate portion provided between the action portion and the connection portion and extending so as to separate the action portion and the connection portion from each other in the surface direction of the circuit board. Movement to do. The movement according to claim 5,
The circuit retainer is provided with a plurality of the switch springs,
Each of the switch springs is
A base end supported by the circuit retainer of the circuit board, and a support arm portion extending along the circuit board;
A switch piece supported by the support arm,
The switch piece includes the action part provided on one end side in the front and back direction of the circuit board, the connection part provided on the other end side, and an intermediate part provided between the action part and the connection part. And
The intermediate part has the extended intermediate part and a connecting intermediate part connected to the support arm part. An electronic timepiece in which the movement according to claim 5 or 6 is mounted.

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