JP2017157382A - Push switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push switch which increases the quantity of light illuminating a central part of a surface that is pressed by a user, by improving light utilization efficiency, is small-sized and improves yield.SOLUTION: A push switch comprises: a substrate with which multiple stationary contacts are formed on an upper surface; a movable member which is mounted on the substrate, has a protrusively curved shape, is deformed by being pressed and generates a conduction between the multiple stationary contacts; a first pressing member which has a pressing surface for pressing the movable member at a lower surface side and has a partially notched substantially annular upper protrusion at an upper surface side; a frame body which surrounds a central part while leaving a connection part with a peripheral edge part, has a substantially annular through-hole into which the upper protrusion is inserted, is disposed at an upper side of the movable member, is fixed to the substrate so as to be prevented from moving during pressing and of which the connection part is projected upwards; a light-emitting element which is packaged on the central part of the frame body; and a light-transmissive second pressing member which presses the first pressing member while receiving a pressure by a user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a push switch.

  Built-in light emitting elements such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) so that the user can recognize the switch even in dark environments such as at night, or the user can identify the on / off state, etc. Illuminated push switches that shine light are known. Illuminated push switches are widely used, for example, as switches used for steering operations of automobiles, switches installed in elevators, and the like.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a push button with a built-in light emitting element, an insulating frame, a flexible connecting portion that supports the push button so as to be movable up and down inside the insulating frame, and a push button below the push button. A push switch having a diaphragm-type movable contact arranged and a box-shaped insulation case which is arranged with an outer peripheral wall overlapped below the insulating frame, has a fixed contact at the center and an end of the bottom, and includes the movable contact Have been described.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an illuminated pushbutton switch that includes a key top, a switch body disposed on a circuit board, and a light emitter, and switches a circuit by pressing a free end of an actuator that projects obliquely from the switch body. A light-emitting body is mounted on a light-emitting body mounting unit that is connected and fixed to a circuit board at a position corresponding to the key top between the key top and the switch body so as not to prevent the change of the actuator.

  Patent Document 3 is a switch that includes a cover provided with an operation button and a switch board, and opens and closes an electric circuit by moving the operation button up and down. There is described an illuminated pushbutton switch in which a light emitter is disposed adjacent to at least one side surface, and members formed of a material that assists light reflection are disposed on the outer periphery and bottom surface of the side surface of the operation button.

  Patent Document 4 discloses an illuminated switch including a switch board having a fixed contact, a light emitting element mounted on the switch board, and a movable contact made of a tact spring disposed above the fixed contact. A window portion is provided, and a light emitting element is arranged at a position corresponding to the window portion.

  In Patent Document 5, a switch body is mounted at the tip of the upper surface of a long plate-like printed circuit board, and a chip-like LED as an illumination light source is mounted at the center, and the user presses an operation button. An illuminated pushbutton switch is described in which the switch body operates and light from the LEDs illuminates the operation buttons.

  In Patent Document 6, there is a base provided with a plurality of contacts, a metal elastic piece for contacting and separating the contacts, and two opposing side plates on the top, and a movement for pressing the metal elastic piece from above There is described a button switch having a key, a pan that has two opposing through-grooves into which side plates of the moving key are respectively inserted, and that houses a light emitter, and a pressing key disposed on the pan. ing.

JP 05-135651 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-245036 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-0778767 JP 2008-027642 A JP 2012-113831 A Utility Model Registration No. 3189477

  In the illumination type push switch, if the light emitting element and the switch mechanism are arranged so as to be shifted in the horizontal direction, the area of the switch in the horizontal direction is increased, which prevents miniaturization. In addition, since an illuminated push switch is required to brighten the pressing surface, it is desirable to dispose both the switch mechanism and the light emitting element under the pressing surface.

  In order to arrange both the switch mechanism and the light emitting element under the pressing surface, the light emitting element is also mounted on a substrate on which a plurality of contacts are formed, a hole is made in a spring member that contacts and separates the contacts, and the spring The form which arrange | positions a member on a light emitting element can be considered. However, in this embodiment, the light use efficiency is deteriorated because the light of the light emitting element comes out of the hole of the spring member, and in particular, in the downsized switch, the product life is shortened when the hole is formed in the spring member. Problems such as poor product yield occur due to poor mounting or variations in brightness or chromaticity.

  In the button switch of Patent Document 6, the light emitter is mounted above the metal elastic piece corresponding to the spring member. However, since light leaks from between two opposing side plates of the moving key, the light use efficiency is Does not rise.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a push switch that improves the light use efficiency and increases the amount of light that illuminates the central portion of the surface pressed by the user, and is small in size and improved in yield.

  A substrate having a plurality of fixed contacts formed on the upper surface, and a movable member that is placed on the substrate, has a convex curved shape, and deforms when pressed to cause conduction between the plurality of fixed contacts. And a first pressing member having a pressing surface on the lower surface side for pressing the movable member on the lower surface side and having an upper protrusion on the upper surface side formed in a substantially annular shape excluding the notch portion, and a peripheral portion. It has a substantially annular through-hole that surrounds the central part and inserts the upper protruding part, and is placed above the movable member so that it does not move when pressed and corresponds to the position of the notch A frame having a bulge formed on the upper surface side of the connecting portion, a light emitting element mounted at the center of the frame and surrounded by the upper protrusion and the ridge, and covering the upper protrusion and the light emitting element. A translucent second member that depresses the first pressing member in response to the pressing force of the person Push switch and a pressing member is provided.

  In the above push switch, the distance between the lower surface of the second pressing member and the upper surface of the raised portion of the frame when the second pressing member is not pressed is the first and second pressing members at the time of pressing. It is preferable that it is longer than the moving distance.

  In the push switch described above, the inner side surface facing the raised light emitting element and the inner side surface facing the light emitting element of the upper protruding portion are both inclined toward the peripheral edge side of the frame body as they go upward, and from the light emitting element A reflective surface that reflects upward the light emitted to the side is preferable.

  In the above push switch, it is preferable that the upper protrusion and the through hole are C-shaped when viewed from above.

  In the above push switch, it is preferable that the second pressing member is a lens that collects the light emitted from the light emitting element.

  In the above push switch, the central portion of the pressing surface of the first pressing member, the light emitting element, and the central portion of the second pressing member are arranged in the vertical direction on the central axis of the curved shape of the movable member. Preferably it is.

  In the above push switch, it is preferable that a wiring pattern for supplying electric power to the light emitting element is drawn out to the peripheral edge side of the frame body via the connecting portion of the frame body.

  According to the above push switch, the light use efficiency is improved, the amount of light for illuminating the central portion of the surface pressed by the user is increased, and the size is reduced and the yield is also improved.

1 is a perspective view of a push switch 1. FIG. It is the front view and side view of a push switch 1. It is a perspective view of push switch 1 with cap 80 removed. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the push switch 1. It is sectional drawing of the push switch 1 along the VV line shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the wiring patterns 67 and 68 for LED element 70. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the push switch 1. It is a figure for demonstrating reflection of the light by the upper protrusion part 52 and the protrusion 66. FIG.

  Hereinafter, the push switch will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the drawings or the embodiments described below.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the push switch 1. 2A to 2C are a front view and a side view of the push switch 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the push switch 1 with the cap 80 removed. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the push switch 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch 1 taken along line VV shown in FIG.

  The push switch 1 includes a substrate 10, a tact spring 20, an adhesive sheet 30, a cover sheet 40, a plunger 50, a lead frame 60, an LED element 70, and a cap 80. The push switch 1 is an illuminated switch that illuminates the pressing surface of the cap 80 with light emitted from the LED element 70.

  The substrate 10 is an insulating substrate made of a resin material such as glass epoxy. A central contact 12 and an outer contact 14 are formed on the upper surface of the substrate 10 as an example of a plurality of fixed contacts. The center contact 12 is a conductor having a circular upper surface, for example, and is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the substrate 10. The outer contact 14 is, for example, two conductors having a rectangular upper surface, and is arranged at the center of the upper surface of the substrate 10 so as to sandwich the central contact 12. The center contact 12 and the outer contact 14 are electrically connected to semicircular through-hole portions 13 and 15 formed on two opposing side surfaces of the substrate 10, respectively. The push switch 1 is connected to an external device by soldering the through-hole portions 13 and 15.

  The tact spring 20 is an example of a movable member and is made of, for example, stainless steel. The tact spring 20 has a convex dome shape (curved shape), and is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 10 so that the end portion is in contact with the outer contact 14 across the central contact 12. The tact spring 20 is deformed so that the dome-shaped curve is crushed when a pressing force (operation load) is applied, and electrical conduction is generated between the central contact 12 and the outer contact 14. Only the center part of the tact spring 20 may be deformed into a concave shape, or the tact spring 20 may be deformed into a concave shape as a whole.

  The adhesive sheet 30 is for fixing the cover sheet 40 on the substrate 10, and has a size that matches the substrate 10. A rectangular opening 31 is formed in the central portion of the adhesive sheet 30, and the tact spring 20 is located therein.

  The cover sheet 40 is a flexible insulating resin sheet for sealing the central contact 12, the outer contact 14, and the tact spring 20 with the substrate 10, and has the same size as the substrate 10. It is pasted on top. The push switch 1 has a waterproof and dustproof structure since the center contact 12, the outer contact 14, and the tact spring 20 are sealed by the cover sheet 40.

  The plunger 50 is an example of a first pressing member, and is a resin member for pressing the tact spring 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the plunger 50 is disposed between the tact spring 20 and the lead frame 60, and is sandwiched between them. The plunger 50 has a lower protruding portion 51 at the center portion on the lower surface side, and an upper protruding portion 52 formed in a substantially annular shape except for one notch portion 53 on the upper surface side.

  When the cap 80 is pushed down by the user, the plunger 50 moves downward together with the cap 80, and pushes down the dome-shaped central portion of the tact spring 20 by the lower protrusion 51. In this way, the plunger 50 transmits the operation load to the tact spring 20. That is, the lower surface of the lower protrusion 51 is a pressing surface for pressing the tact spring 20. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the upper side protrusion part 52 when it sees from upper direction is a C-shape. The C-shape is not limited to the same round shape as the alphabet “C”, but is a square shape with one of the “K” or “B” characters cut out. It may be.

  The lead frame 60 is a resin frame formed integrally with the four connection electrodes 91 to 94 by insert molding, for example. The connection electrodes 91 and 92 are unconnected terminals provided for fixing the push switch 1 and are exposed on one side surface of the lead frame 60. The connection electrodes 93 and 94 are terminals for connecting the LED element 70 to an external power source, and are exposed on the other side surface of the lead frame 60 facing the connection electrodes 91 and 92. The lead frame 60 has a rectangular shape that is the same size as the substrate 10 and is disposed above the tact spring 20 so that the lead frame 60 does not move when the cap 80 is pressed through the cover sheet 40. It is fixed against.

  The lead frame 60 has a substantially annular through-hole 64 on its upper surface that surrounds the central portion 63 leaving a connecting portion 62 with the peripheral edge portion 61. Further, the lead frame 60 forms an internal space 65 in which the plunger 50 is accommodated between the lead frame 60 and the cover sheet 40 on the substrate 10 (see FIG. 7A described later). The shape of the through hole 64 when viewed from above is the same C shape as that of the upper protruding portion 52 of the plunger 50. The upper protrusion 52 protrudes above the lead frame 60 through the through hole 64. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a ridge 66 is formed on the upper surface of the connecting portion 62. Although the height of the ridge 66 is lower than the height of the upper protruding portion 52 protruding from the through hole 64, the periphery of the central portion 63 protrudes upward over the entire circumference due to the ridge 66.

  The LED element 70 is an example of a light emitting element, and emits red light, green light, blue light, white light, or the like, for example, depending on the use of the push switch 1. The LED element 70 is mounted on the central portion 63 of the lead frame 60 with, for example, solder, and the periphery thereof is surrounded by the upper protruding portion 52 of the plunger 50 and the ridge 66 of the lead frame 60. The type and mounting method of the LED element 70 may be anything and are not particularly limited.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the wiring patterns 67 and 68 for the LED element 70. A set of wiring patterns 67 and 68 for supplying power to the LED element 70 is formed on the lead frame 60. As shown in FIG. 6, the wiring patterns 67 and 68 are drawn from the central portion 63 to the peripheral edge portion 61 side of the lead frame 60 via the connecting portion 62 and formed on the side surface of the push switch 1. The connection electrodes 93 and 94 are electrically connected to each other. By connecting the connection electrodes 93 and 94 to an external power source, the LED element 70 can emit light as necessary.

  The cap 80 is an example of a second pressing member, and is disposed on the uppermost layer of the push switch 1 so as to cover the upper protruding portion 52 of the plunger 50 and the LED element 70. The cap 80 is a member that is pressed down by the user and has a function of transmitting the emitted light from the LED element 70 upward, and thus is formed of a translucent material. The lower surface of the cap 80 is in contact with the upper surface of the upper protrusion 52, and the cap 80 moves downward in response to an operation load applied by the user and depresses the plunger 50.

  FIG. 7A to FIG. 7F are diagrams for explaining the operation of the push switch 1. 7 (A) and 7 (B) are cross-sectional views of the push switch 1 along the line VIIA-VIIA shown in FIG. 7 (C). FIGS. 7 (D) and 7 (E) are drawings. It is sectional drawing of the push switch 1 along the VIID-VIID line | wire shown to 7 (F). FIGS. 7C and 7F are plan views showing the upper surface of the lead frame 60, the upper protrusion 52 of the plunger 50, and the LED element 70, and FIG. 7F is a plan view of FIG. Is rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

  When an operation load is not applied, the tact spring 20 holds an upwardly convex dome shape as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D. When the upper surface of the cap 80 is pressed downward by the user, the cap 80 and the plunger 50 move downward as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7E, and the lower side of the plunger 50 protrudes downward. The part 51 pushes down the central part of the tact spring 20 via the cover sheet 40. As a result, the tact spring 20 is deformed so that the dome-shaped curve is crushed. Therefore, the central contact 12 and the outer contact 14 on the substrate 10 are conducted through the tact spring 20, and the push switch 1 is turned on. When the operation load applied to the upper surface of the cap 80 disappears, the cap 80 and the plunger 50 move upward as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D, and the dome shape of the tact spring 20 is changed. Restored. As a result, the central contact 12 and the outer contact 14 do not conduct, and the push switch 1 is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 7D, the distance between the lower surface of the cap 80 and the upper surface of the ridge 66 of the lead frame 60 when the cap 80 is not pressed is set to d1. Further, as shown in FIG. 7E, the moving distance of the cap 80 and the plunger 50 when pressed is set to d2. Then, in the push switch 1, the height of the ridge 66 is adjusted so that the distance d1 is longer than the distance d2. That is, a gap wider than the stroke of the push switch 1 is formed between the lower surface of the cap 80 and the upper surface of the ridge 66 when the cap 80 is not depressed. If the distance d1 is shorter than the distance d2, the lower surface of the cap 80 comes into contact with the upper surface of the ridge 66 when an operation load is applied, and the cap 80 and the plunger 50 cannot move downward any more. However, in the push switch 1, even if the cap 80 moves downward, the lower surface of the cap 80 does not contact the upper surface of the ridge 66, and the movement is not hindered.

  FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are diagrams for explaining light reflection by the upper protrusion 52 and the ridge 66. These drawings are sectional views of the push switch 1 that are the same as those in FIGS. 7A and 7D, respectively.

  The inner side surface 521 of the upper protrusion 52 facing the LED element 70 is a reflective surface that is inclined toward the peripheral edge 61 of the lead frame 60 as it goes upward. Further, the inner side surface 661 of the ridge 66 facing the LED element 70 is also a reflecting surface that is inclined toward the peripheral edge 61 side of the lead frame 60 as it goes upward. These reflecting surfaces are formed, for example, by covering the inner side surfaces 521 and 661 with a metal thin film having a high light reflectance. Accordingly, as indicated by an arrow L in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the light emitted from the LED element 70 to the side is reflected upward by the inner side surfaces 521 and 661, and the push switch 1. Is emitted upward. In addition, the upper side protrusion 52 and the inner side surface of the ridge 66 do not necessarily have to be entirely inclined surfaces, and both may include a vertical surface.

  In the push switch 1, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7D, on the dome-shaped central axis X of the tact spring 20, the central portion of the lower protrusion 51 of the plunger 50, the LED element 70, And the center part of the cap 80 is piled up and arranged in the perpendicular direction. For this reason, since the area of the switch in the horizontal direction is smaller than the mode in which the switch element including the central contact 12, the outer contact 14, and the tact spring 20 and the LED element 70 are shifted in the horizontal direction, the switch can be downsized. become.

  In the push switch 1, the LED element 70 is mounted on the lead frame 60, which is a substrate different from the substrate 10 on which the center contact 12 and the outer contact 14 are formed, and the lead frame 60 is disposed on the substrate 10. . For this reason, if only the LED elements that have been mounted on the lead frame 60 and confirmed to be non-defective products are incorporated into the push switch 1, for example, LED elements having luminance and chromaticity outside the specified range can be excluded from the beginning. Therefore, the yield can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the LED element is mounted on the substrate 10.

  Further, in the push switch 1, the shape of the upper protrusion 52 of the plunger 50 surrounding the LED element 70 is C-shaped, and the opening is only one portion of the notch 53. For this reason, since the contact area of the plunger 50 and the cap 80 becomes large compared with the form in which the opening part of the upper side protrusion part 52 is formed in multiple places, the intensity | strength of the upper side protrusion part 52 with respect to the operation load from the top Also become stronger.

  Further, in the push switch 1, since the LED element 70 is mounted above the tact spring 20, the LED element is mounted on the substrate 10, a hole is formed in the tact spring 20, and light emitted from the hole is used. Compared with the form, the light utilization efficiency is high. Further, in the push switch 1, the shape of the upper protruding portion 52 of the plunger 50 is C-shaped, and the ridge 66 is formed on the upper surface of the lead frame 60 in the notch 53, so that the notch 53 Therefore, the light from the LED element 70 is difficult to leak. Moreover, in the push switch 1, the inner side surface 521 of the upper protrusion 52 and the inner side surface 661 of the ridge 66 are inclined surfaces, and the inclined optical surface is provided with a reflective optical shape. The light can be reflected upward along the entire circumference. For this reason, in the push switch 1, the light use efficiency is higher than that in the form in which there are openings at two or more locations around the LED element 70.

  In addition, the center part or the whole of the cap 80 may be a lens that collects the emitted light from the LED element 70. If the cap 80 is formed of a lens, the cap 80 can serve both as a pressing surface for the user and a light collecting function. In this case, the directivity of light can be changed according to the application depending on the shape of the inner side surface 521 of the upper protrusion 52 and the inner side surface 661 of the ridge 66 as the reflecting surface and the shape of the lens of the cap 80. Is possible. Moreover, since the light emitted from the LED element 70 can be efficiently used for illumination by the combination of the reflecting surface and the lens, the current to the LED element 70 itself can be kept low, and the power consumption can be reduced. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push switch 10 Board | substrate 12 Center contact 14 Outer contact 20 Tact spring 30 Adhesive sheet 40 Cover sheet 50 Plunger 51 Lower protrusion part 52 Upper protrusion part 60 Lead frame 61 Peripheral part 62 Connection part 63 Center part 64 Through-hole 66 Bump 67, 68 Wiring pattern 70 LED element 80 Cap

Claims (8)

A substrate having a plurality of fixed contacts formed on the upper surface;
A movable member mounted on the substrate, having a convex curved shape, and deformed by being pressed to cause conduction between the plurality of fixed contacts;
A first pressing member having a pressing surface on the lower surface side for pressing the movable member, and having an upper protrusion formed on the upper surface side substantially in an annular shape excluding the notch portion;
It has a substantially annular through-hole that surrounds the central part, leaving a connection part with the peripheral part, and into which the upper protruding part is inserted. A frame having a bulge formed on the upper surface side of the connecting portion corresponding to the position of the notch,
A light-emitting element mounted on the central portion of the frame body and surrounded by the upper protrusion and the bulge;
A translucent second pressing member that covers the upper protruding portion and the light emitting element and receives the pressing force by the user to press the first pressing member;
A push switch characterized by comprising:   The distance between the lower surface of the second pressing member and the upper surface of the raised portion of the frame when the second pressing member is not pressed is the movement of the first and second pressing members when pressed. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein the push switch is longer than the distance.   An inner side surface of the ridge facing the light emitting element is inclined toward the peripheral edge side of the frame body as it goes upward, and is a reflecting surface that reflects upward the light emitted from the light emitting element to the side. The push switch according to claim 2 which is.   The inner side surface of the upper protruding portion facing the light emitting element is inclined toward the peripheral edge side of the frame body as it goes upward, and is a reflection that reflects upward the light emitted from the light emitting element to the side. The push switch according to claim 3, wherein the push switch is a surface.   The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper protrusion and the through hole are C-shaped when viewed from above.   The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second pressing member is a lens that collects light emitted from the light emitting element.   On the central axis of the curved shape of the movable member, the central portion of the pressing surface of the first pressing member, the light emitting element, and the central portion of the second pressing member are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction. The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The wiring pattern for supplying electric power to the said light emitting element via the said connection part of the said frame is pulled out to the said peripheral part side of the said frame, As described in any one of Claims 1-7. The described push switch.

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