JP2018098142A - Switch, electronic equipment and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a switch thin in a pressing direction and to reduce the number of components for which metal plating processing is required.SOLUTION: A switch comprises: an electrical contact piece 9 which is moved while being pressed by a pressing member 3, the pressing member being moved in a first direction; and a flexible substrate 10 including first and second substrate contact parts 10a and 10b. In the flexible substrate, each of the first and second substrate contact parts is movable in the first direction. The switch further comprises: an energizing member 12 including first energizing parts 12a and 12a1 and second energizing parts 12b and 12b1 that generate a first energizing force and a second energizing force acting in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, by being elastically deformed with movements of the first substrate contact part and the second substrate contact part. The electrical contact piece that is moved to a first position by being pressed by the pressing member is brought into the first substrate contact part, and the electrical contact piece that is moved to a second position which is in the first direction rather than the first position, is brought into contact with the second substrate contact part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch used in an electronic apparatus such as an imaging apparatus.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the release switch provided in the imaging apparatus is turned on when the release button is half-pressed to turn on the first switch, and is fully depressed when the release switch is turned on. It is configured as a two-stage switch that turns on the eye switch. The imaging device performs an imaging preparation operation such as a photometric operation and a focus detection operation in response to the first-stage switch being turned on, and performs an imaging operation in response to the second-stage switch being turned on.

  In general, it is preferable for the user of the imaging apparatus to be able to perform the pressing operation of the release button without being aware of whether or not the second-stage switch is turned on. As a switch for obtaining such a good operational feeling, the first, second and third contact pieces, which are three leaf spring conductors insulated from each other, are used as the release button pressing direction (hereinafter referred to as pressing direction). ) Are arranged so as to overlap. When the release button is pressed halfway, the first contact piece and the second contact piece come into contact with each other to turn on the first-stage switch. When the release button is fully pressed, the second contact piece and the third contact piece are turned on. When the contact piece comes into contact, the second-stage switch is turned on.

  Furthermore, an overstroke structure that allows the release button to be pushed in even after the second-stage switch is turned on is widely used for the release switch.

JP 2008-192550 A

  However, in the switch described above, the size in the pressing direction is large because the insulator is disposed between the first, second, and third contact pieces. Furthermore, in order to ensure the reliability of the electrical connection between the first, second, and third contact pieces, the parts cost is increased by performing a plating process such as gold plating on all the contact pieces.

  The present invention provides a switch that can reduce the number of parts that require thinning and plating in the pressing direction and an electronic device including the switch.

  The switch according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pressing member that is movable in a first direction, an electrical contact piece that is moved by being pressed by the moving pressing member, and a first board contact portion that is in contact with the moved electrical piece. And a flexible substrate having a second substrate contact portion. In the flexible substrate, the first and second substrate contact portions are each formed to be movable in the first direction. The switch is elastically deformed with the movement of the first substrate contact portion and the second substrate contact portion, respectively, so that the first urging force and the second force acting in the second direction opposite to the first direction are obtained. It further has a biasing member having a first biasing portion and a second biasing portion that generate a biasing force. The electrical contact piece that has been pressed by the pressing member and moved to the first position contacts the first substrate contact portion, and the electrical contact piece that has moved from the first position to the second position in the first direction is the first. It contacts the two substrate contact portions.

  In addition, it has the said switch, a 1st detection is performed when an electrical contact piece contacts a 1st board contact part, and a 2nd detection is performed when an electrical contact piece contacts a 2nd board contact part. An electronic device such as an imaging device to perform also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the switch can be thinned in the first direction (pressing direction), and the reliability of electrical connection can be ensured by plating one electrical contact piece. Therefore, by using this switch, a compact and highly reliable electronic device (such as an imaging device) can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of a release switch used in an image pickup apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view and top view of an imaging device provided with a release switch. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a release switch. Sectional drawing which shows the initial state and 1st switch-on state of a release switch. Sectional drawing which shows the 2nd switch-on state and release state of a release switch. The figure which shows the relationship between the operation stroke of a release switch, and required operation force.

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

  An image pickup apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The imaging device 1 includes a lens unit 2 that forms a subject image (optical image) on the front surface thereof. A release button 3 and a power button 6 that are pressed down by a user operation are provided on the upper surface of the imaging apparatus 1. When the release button 3 is depressed, a release switch described later is turned on. A zoom lever 4 that changes the focal length of the lens unit 2 by being rotated by a user operation is provided around the release button 3. The imaging device 1 is covered with an exterior cover 5 that protects internal components such as the imaging element 7 and a control board (not shown).

  Next, the configuration of the release button 3 and the release switch will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The release button 3 as a pressing member has an operation part 3a and a shaft part 3b which are parts that the user presses with a finger. The shaft portion 3 b is inserted into a bearing portion provided inside the zoom lever 4. As a result, the downward movement of the release button 3 and the upward movement of the release button 3 are guided. At the lower end of the shaft portion 3b, there is a pressing portion 3c that comes into contact with and presses the electrical contact piece 9 described below when the release button 3 is pushed down. In the following description, the direction in which the release button 3 is pushed down (first direction) is referred to as a pressing direction, and the opposite direction (second direction) is referred to as a return direction.

  The electrical contact piece 9 is disposed immediately below the release button 3. A fixing portion 9d provided at a fixed end which is one end of the electrical contact piece 9 is fixed to the exterior cover 5 with screws. The other end of the electrical contact piece 9 is a free end, and the electrical contact piece 9 can move in the pressing direction and the return direction while elastically deforming a portion on the free end side relative to the fixed end.

  Further, the electrical contact piece 9 has a first contact piece contact portion 9a and a second contact piece contact portion 9b each having a downwardly convex shape. A positioning boss (not shown) provided in the exterior cover 5 is inserted into the holes 9d1 and 9d2 formed in the electrical contact piece 9. Thus, the electrical contact piece 9 whose position is determined is fixed to the exterior cover 5 by screws inserted into the hole 9d3.

  The flexible substrate 10 is provided to transmit an electric signal to the control substrate. The flexible substrate 10 is disposed immediately below the electrical contact piece 9. The fixing portion 9d of the electrical contact piece 9 is in contact with a ground pattern (ground portion) provided in a part of the fixing portion 10c of the flexible substrate 10.

  The flexible substrate 10 includes a first contact pattern portion 10a that is a first substrate contact portion and a second contact pattern portion 10b that is a second substrate contact portion. In addition, the flexible substrate 10 includes a first extending portion 10a1 extending from the fixed portion 10c side to the first contact pattern portion 10a and a second extending portion 10b1 extending to the second contact pattern portion 10b. Have. The first contact pattern portion 10a and the first extension portion 10a1, and the second contact pattern portion 10b and the second extension portion 10b1 are separated from each other, so that they are independent of each other. It can move in the pressing direction and the return direction. The signal line patterns from the first and second contact pattern portions 10a and 10b are connected to the control board via the first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1 and the fixing portion 10c, respectively.

  Since the flexible substrate 10 is thin, the first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1 need to have a certain width in strength. On the other hand, the signal line pattern connected from the first and second contact pattern portions 10a and 10b to the fixed portion 10c may be extremely narrow compared to the widths of the first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1. For this reason, in this embodiment, the first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1 are combined into one third extending portion 10ab at a position close to the fixed portion 10c in order to save space. Thus, the two signal line patterns from the first and second contact pattern portions 10a and 10b are arranged side by side at the third extending portion 10ab and connected to the fixing portion 10c. That is, the flexible substrate 10 has a third extending portion 10ab extending from the fixed portion 10c and connected to the first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1.

  The flexible substrate 10 also has a signal line pattern that connects an operation component provided on the upper surface of the imaging device 1 such as the power button 6 and the control substrate.

  The plate-like support member 11 supports the flexible substrate 10 by fixing the fixing portion 10c of the flexible substrate 10 with a double-sided tape or the like. The support member 11 is fixed to the exterior cover 5 by screws inserted into the holes 11a1, 11a2, and 11a3. The support member 11 has an opening 11d for securing a movable space for the first contact pattern portion 10a, the first extension portion 10a1, the second contact pattern portion 10b, and the second extension portion 10b1. . Thereby, it is possible to make the release switch thinner.

  The urging member 12 formed of sheet metal has a first contact receiving part 12a and a second contact receiving part 12b. The first contact receiving portion 12a and the second contact receiving portion 12b are respectively fixed to the first contact pattern portion 10a and the second contact pattern portion 10b of the flexible substrate 10 by being bonded with a double-sided tape or the like. The urging member 12 is fixed to the exterior cover 5 together with the support member 11, the flexible substrate 10, and the electrical contact piece 9 by a screw inserted into a screw hole portion 12 c formed in the fixing portion 12 d.

  The urging member 12 has a first extending portion 12a1 and a second extending portion 12b1 that extend from the fixed portion 12d and connect to the first contact receiving portion 12a and the second contact receiving portion 12b, respectively. In the following description, the first contact receiving portion 12a and the first extending portion 12a1 are collectively referred to as first urging portions 12a and 12a1. The second contact receiving portion 12b and the second extending portion 12b1 are collectively referred to as second urging portions 12b and 12b1.

  The first urging portions 12a and 12a1 and the second urging portions 12b and 12b1 are separated from each other. Therefore, the first urging portions 12a and 12a1 and the second urging portions 12b and 12b1 can be elastically deformed in the pressing direction, respectively. Accordingly, the first urging portions 12a and 12a1 and the second urging portions 12b and 12b1 are urged in the return direction to the first contact pattern portion 10a and the second contact pattern portion 10b, respectively (independently of each other). Can be given. These urging forces become a resistance force (load) against the pressing operation of the release button 3 through the electric contact piece 9. The force exceeding the resistance force is a force required for the pressing operation of the release button 3 (hereinafter referred to as a required operation force).

  In the following description, the urging force generated by the first urging portions 12a and 12a1 and acting in the return direction (given to the first contact pattern portion 10a) is referred to as a first urging force. The urging force generated by the second urging portions 12b and 12b1 and acting in the return direction (given to the second contact pattern portion 10b) is referred to as a second urging force.

  The first and second extending portions 10a1 and 10b1 of the flexible substrate 10 are not bonded and fixed to the first and second extending portions 12a1 and 12b1. This prevents stress from being applied to the flexible substrate 10 when the first and second extending portions 12a1 and 12b1 are elastically deformed.

  Further, the extending directions of the first extending portion 12a1 of the urging member 12 and the first extending portion 10a1 of the flexible substrate 10 are aligned with each other. Similarly, the extending directions of the second extending portion 12b1 of the urging member 12 and the second extending portion 10b1 of the flexible substrate 10 are aligned with each other. Accordingly, when the first contact pattern portion 10a and the second contact pattern portion 10b move in the pressing direction, the first extension portions 10a1 and 10b1 and the second extension portions 12a1 and 12b1 are in the same direction. Bend. For this reason, it is possible to avoid an unnecessary load that pulls or buckles the flexible substrate 10.

  Next, the operation of the release switch will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a), 5 (b) and FIG. 4 (a), 4 (b) and FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) show cross sections along line AA shown in FIG. 2 (b). FIG. 4A shows an initial state where the release button 3 is in an initial position where the release button 3 has not yet been pressed. FIG. 4B shows the first switch-on in which the first contact point contact portion 9a of the electric contact piece 9 has moved to a position (first position) where it contacts the first contact pattern portion 10a of the flexible substrate 10. Indicates the state. FIG. 5A shows a second switch-on in which the second contact point contact portion 9b of the electrical contact piece 9 has moved to a position (second position) where it contacts the second contact pattern portion 10b of the flexible substrate 10. Indicates the state. FIG. 5B shows an overstroke state in which the release button 3 is further pushed down from the second switch-on state and moved to the movable end together with the electrical piece 9.

  FIG. 6 shows a change in the required operating force with respect to the pressing operation amount of the release button 3 from when the release button 3 starts to be pushed to the overstroke state through the first switch-on state and the second switch-on state. . The horizontal axis indicates the amount of pressing operation of the release button 3, and the vertical axis indicates the required operating force for the release button 3 (that is, the load for the pressing operation).

  An arrow A shown in FIG. 4A indicates a pressing direction that is a pressing operation direction of the release button 3. The release button 3 is urged in the return direction by a coil spring 14 attached around the bearing 4a of the zoom lever 4. In the initial state, the urging force of the coil spring 14 holds the release button 3 at an initial position where the pressing portion 3 c is separated upward from the pressed portion 9 c of the electrical contact piece 9. A hook portion (not shown) of the release button 3 is engaged with the zoom lever 4 so that the release button 3 does not come out of the zoom lever 4 from the initial position by the biasing force of the coil spring 14.

  The zoom holder 13 is integrally fixed to the zoom lever 4 by heat caulking or the like. The zoom lever 4 and the zoom holder 13 are attached so as to sandwich the exterior cover 5 therebetween. Thereby, the zoom lever 4 is attached to the exterior cover 5 so as to be rotatable about the shaft portion 3b of the release button 3 while being prevented from being displaced in the pressing direction and the return direction. A contact brush (not shown) is attached to the zoom holder 13. The contact brush contacts a zoom contact pattern (not shown) formed on the fixed portion 10 c of the flexible substrate 10 to generate a zoom operation signal as an electrical signal corresponding to the rotation position of the zoom lever 4. A controller (microcomputer) (not shown) mounted on the control board controls zoom driving of the lens unit 2 in accordance with the zoom operation signal.

  The urging member 12 has a first contact portion 12a2 in the vicinity of the first contact receiving portion 12a. In the initial state, the first contact portion 12a2 is generated at the first extension portion 12a1. Due to the urging force in the returning direction, the support member 11 is contacted from below. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the natural state before the biasing member 12 is assembled, the first extension portion 12a1 is slightly warped toward the release button 3, and in the assembled state, the first extension portion 12a1. Is elastically deformed in the pressing direction. If the urging force that urges the first contact receiving portion 12a in the state after the incorporation (that is, from the initial state to the first switch-on state) is the first urging force Fa, the first urging force Fa The first contact receiving portion 12a does not move in the pressing direction unless it is pushed down with a larger force.

  When the release button 3 is pushed down (half-pressed) from the initial state of FIG. 4A, first, the pressing portion 3 c of the release button 3 comes into contact with the pressed portion 9 c of the electrical contact piece 9 and presses this. . Thereafter, when the release button 3 is further pushed down, the first contact piece contact portion 9a of the electrical contact piece 9 comes into contact with the first contact pattern portion 10a of the flexible substrate 10. As a result, the first switch is turned on. The microcomputer detects the first switch-on state (that is, performs the first detection), and starts an imaging preparation operation such as photometry and automatic focus adjustment (AF).

  Since the first contact receiving portion 12a is biased by a certain biasing force Fa in the first switch-on state, the user can easily stop the pressing operation of the release button 3 in the first switch-on state. Thus, confirmation of the imaging composition and the like can be easily performed in a state where AF is performed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, if the pressing operation amount of the release button 3 from the initial state to the first switch-on state is S1, the required operating force increases to F1. As described above, since the urging force Fa acts on the first contact receiving portion 12a of the urging member 12 in advance, the first contact receiving portion 12a is moved in the pressing direction from the first switch-on state. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a pressing operation force larger than Fa to the release button 3. Sm shown in FIG. 6 is a pressing operation amount of the release button 3 when the first contact receiving portion 12a starts to move in the pressing direction from the first switch-on state, and the required operating force Fm at that time is
Fm = F1 + Fa
It becomes.

  When the release button 3 is further pressed down (fully pressed) from the pressing operation amount Sm, as shown in FIG. 5A, the second contact point contact portion 9b of the electrical contact piece 9 becomes the flexible substrate 10. In contact with the second contact pattern portion 10b. As a result, the second switch is turned on. The microcomputer detects the second switch-on state (that is, performs the second detection), and starts the imaging operation from the imaging of the subject image by the imaging device 7 to the recording of the image generated thereby. To do. S2 shown in FIG. 6 is a pressing operation amount of the release button 3 in the second switch-on state, and a required operating force F2 at that time is.

  The urging member 12 has a second contact portion 12b2 in the vicinity of the second contact receiving portion 12b. By causing the second contact portion 12b2 to contact the support member 11, the positional accuracy in the pressing direction of the second contact receiving portion 12b from the initial state to the second switch-on state can be improved. . At this time, the second biasing force Fb that biases the second contact receiving portion 12b toward the support member 11 from the initial state to the second switch-on state is preferably as small as possible. This is because an extra load is not generated for the pressing operation of the release button 3 after the second switch is turned on, and a good operational feeling is obtained. Therefore, it is desirable that the first urging force Fa described above is larger than the second urging force Fb.

Sn shown in FIG. 6 is a pressing operation amount when the second contact receiving portion 12b starts to move in the pressing direction, and the required operating force Fn at this time is
Fn = F2 + Fb
It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, the further pressing operation is not limited in the second switch-on state, but the imaging device at the time when the second switch-on state is set by an overstroke structure that can be further pressed down. Generation of vibrations can be prevented. As a result, image blur due to the vibration can be prevented.

  When the release button 3 is further pushed down from the second switch-on state, the first and second contact receiving portions 12a and 12b of the urging member 12 are further moved in the pressing direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the release button 3 comes into contact with the upper end 4a1 of the bearing portion 4a of the zoom lever 4, an overstroke state in which further pressing operation of the release button 3 is prevented. Become. Sf shown in FIG. 6 indicates a pressing operation amount in an overstroke state.

  The urging member 12 moves from the position in the first switch-on state (first position) to the position in the second switch-on state (second position), and further the overstroke state. The required operating force continues to increase while moving to the position (movable end). That is, the first and second urging forces are generated so as to increase the required operating force without decreasing it. Thereby, a favorable operation feeling can be given to the user.

  The timing of the first and second switch-on states in the pressing operation of the release button 3 from the initial state greatly affects the feeling of operation. Therefore, the contact between the first contact piece contact portion 9a and the first contact pattern portion 10a and the contact between the second contact piece contact portion 9b and the second contact pattern portion 10b are timely, in other words, good. It needs to be done with good positional accuracy. Accordingly, the electrical contact piece 9 has the first contact in order from the free end side to the fixed end side so that the contact is made at a stable timing (positional accuracy) that is less likely to cause deformation such as twisting of the electrical contact piece 9. It is desirable to have a single contact portion 9a, a pressed portion 9c, a second contact piece contact portion 9b, and a fixing portion 9d. Furthermore, it is desirable that the first contact piece contact portion 9a, the pressed portion 9c, the second contact piece contact portion 9b, and the fixing portion 9d are arranged in a straight line.

  Thus, by providing the pressed portion 9c between the first contact piece contact portion 9a and the second contact piece contact portion 9b, the first and second contact piece contact portions 9a, 9b can be accurately provided. The contact can be performed with good timing by being deformed and moved.

  According to the structure of the release switch of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the thickness in the pressing direction as compared with the conventional structure in which three electrical contact pieces are stacked with a space therebetween. In addition, since only one of the electrical contact pieces 9 needs to be plated in order to ensure a stable electrical connection, it is possible to reduce the cost of the release switch and thus the imaging device. .

  In this embodiment, a method using the coil spring 14 is adopted as a method for holding the release button 3 in the initial position. However, the release button 3 can be held by bringing the electric contact piece 9 into contact with the pressing portion 3c in the initial position. Is possible. In this case, the coil spring 14 is not necessary.

  Further, in this embodiment, an imaging apparatus is cited as an example of an electronic device and the release switch has been described. However, other embodiments of the present invention include various electronic apparatuses other than the imaging apparatus and switches other than the release switch.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 3 Release button 9 Electrical contact piece 9a 1st contact piece contact part 9b 2nd contact piece contact part 10 Flexible substrate 10a 1st contact pattern part 10b 2nd contact pattern part 12 Energizing member 12a 1st Contact receiving portion 12b of the second contact receiving portion

Claims (8)

A pressing member movable in a first direction;
An electrical contact piece moved by being pressed by the moving pressing member;
A flexible substrate having a first substrate contact portion and a second substrate contact portion that are in contact with the moved electrical piece;
In the flexible substrate, each of the first and second substrate contact portions is formed to be movable in the first direction,
A first biasing force and a second biasing force acting in a second direction opposite to the first direction by elastically deforming with the movement of the first substrate contact part and the second substrate contact part, respectively. An urging member having a first urging portion and a second urging portion for generating an urging force;
The electrical contact piece that has been pressed by the pressing member and moved to the first position contacts the first substrate contact portion, and has moved from the first position to the second position in the first direction. The switch, wherein the electrical contact piece contacts the second substrate contact portion. The electrical piece has a fixed end and a free end;
In order from the free end side to the fixed end,
A first contact point contact portion that contacts the first substrate contact portion;
A pressed part pressed by the pressing member;
The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a second contact piece contact portion that contacts the second substrate contact portion.   The first and second urging portions respectively generate the first and second urging forces from an initial state before the pressing member moves in the first direction. Item 3. The switch according to item 1 or 2.   4. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the first urging force is greater than the second urging force. 5.   The urging member is moved while the electric contact piece pressed by the pressing member moving in the first direction moves from the first position to the second position and further moves to the movable end. The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second urging forces are generated so as to increase without reducing a force required to move the pressing member.   The flexible substrate extends from a first extension portion extending to the first substrate contact portion, a second extension portion extending to the second substrate contact portion, and a fixing portion of the flexible substrate, and The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a third extending portion connected to the first and second extending portions. It has a switch as described in any one of Claim 1 to 6,
The first detection is performed when the electrical contact piece contacts the first substrate contact portion, and the second detection is performed when the electrical contact piece contacts the second substrate contact portion. And electronic equipment. The electronic device according to claim 7,
Having an image sensor for capturing a subject image;
An imaging apparatus that performs an imaging preparation operation in response to the first detection and performs an imaging operation in response to the second detection.