JP2020009607A - Switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a switching device capable of facilitating connection of a pressing force operation part with a biological information detection function of an operation finger.SOLUTION: A switching device 1 includes: a pressing force operation part 2 provided on a case 3 to be movable by a pressing force; a biological information sensor 11 provided on a pressing force operation part 2 and detecting biological information of an operation finger; a control substrate 13 provided in the case 3 along the pressing force operation direction of the pressing force operation part 2 and connected with the biological information sensor 11; and a connector 15 for external connection fixed on the control substrate 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly to a switch device having a function of detecting biological information of an operation finger on a pressing operation unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art A start control device that starts an engine of a vehicle using a push button type start switch has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The start control device described in Patent Literature 1 is a start process that controls the operation of a start sensor for starting an engine based on a fingerprint sensor provided on a pressing portion of a start switch and an input from the start switch and the fingerprint sensor. And control means for executing

JP 2008-174095 A

  Generally, a pressing portion of a start switch used in the start control device described in Patent Document 1 is held by an opening of a housing so as to be able to reciprocate. Due to its structure, the wiring drawn out from the fingerprint sensor provided on the pressing part of the start switch is electrically connected to the fixed side connection part provided in the housing, and the wiring for connecting the fingerprint sensor is performed. Assembly becomes complicated.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch device that facilitates connection of a pressing operation unit having a function of detecting biological information of an operating finger.

  In order to achieve the above object, a switch device according to the present invention includes a pressing operation unit provided in a case so as to be capable of pressing and moving, and a biological information sensor provided in the pressing operation unit and detecting biological information of an operation finger. A control board provided in the case along the pressing operation direction of the pressing operation section and connected to the biological information sensor, and an external connection connector fixed to the control board. Is what you do.

  In the switch device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the biological information sensor has flexible wiring connected to the control board.

  Further, in the switch device according to the present invention, the biological information sensor may have a configuration in which the biological information sensor has a sliding terminal that makes electrical sliding contact with the control board.

  Further, in the switch device according to the present invention, it is preferable that a switch for detecting a pressing operation of the pressing operation unit is provided, and the switch is connected to the control board.

  Furthermore, in the switch device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the control board is a double-sided mounting board.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the simplification of the connection of the press operation part provided with the biological information detection function of the operation finger can be realized.

(A) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of the switch device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view when the switch device is pressed. . FIG. 2 is a plan view as viewed from an arrow II line in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the internal structure of the switch device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional diagram when the switch device is pressed. . FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

  An embodiment according to the switch device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the embodiment described below, a switch device for a vehicle engine is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to switch devices of various in-vehicle devices, and can be applied to switch devices of various devices such as remote control, information terminals, and home appliances, in addition to switch devices for vehicles.

[First Embodiment]
In FIG. 1A, a switch device 1 is configured as a push-momentary engine switch device that is pressed when switching a vehicle power supply. The switch device 1 has a power supply transition operation function of switching the power supply of the vehicle to four states of an ignition off state, an accessory on state, an ignition on state, and an engine start state by pressing the pressing operation unit 2. I have. Here, the pressing operation refers to an operation of pushing and moving the pressing operation unit 2 by pressing the operation surface of the pressing operation unit 2.

  The switch device 1 includes a synthetic resin case 3 serving as an outer cylinder and a synthetic resin substrate holder 4 serving as an inner cylinder. A pair of elastically deformable elastic locking pieces 3a, 3a, which are opposed to each other, are integrally formed on a side wall forming an opening at an end of the case 3 on the operator facing surface side. The elastic locking piece 3a is snap-fit fixed to a mounting hole of an interior component such as an instrument panel provided in front of a steering wheel (not shown).

  A cap-shaped pressing operation unit 2 that receives a pressing operation by the operator and an operation unit holder 5 that surrounds the pressing operation unit 2 are provided at an opening on the operator facing surface side of the case 3. The operation unit holder 5 holds the pressing operation unit 2 so as to be able to reciprocate along the central axis line CL. A bezel 6 is assembled around the pressing operation unit 2 and the operation unit holder 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, a switch 7 serving as a detection unit that detects a pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the operation unit holder 5. In the illustrated example, three switches 7 are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference around the center axis CL.

  The switch 7 is configured as a rubber contact switch in which a movable contact provided on an inner bottom surface of a dome-shaped rubber contact 9 which elastically deforms and buckles with respect to a fixed contact provided on the wiring board 8 comes into contact with or separates from the fixed contact. A wiring connector 10 disposed on the back side of the wiring board 8 is electrically connected to the fixed contact.

  A biological information sensor 11 is arranged on the back surface of the pressing operation unit 2. The rubber contact 9 is arranged on the back surface of the biological information sensor 11. It is preferable that the rubber contact 9 is disposed closer to the pressing operation unit 2 that is smaller than half the dimension in the switch depth direction. Thereby, the movement of the rubber contact 9 is limited to a very small part of the back surface of the pressing operation unit 2.

  When the pressing operation unit 2 is pressed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1B, the movable contact of the rubber contact 9 comes into contact with the fixed contact of the wiring board 8 so that the rubber contact switch is turned on. Becomes When the pressing operation of the pressing operation section 2 is released, the rubber contact 9 automatically returns to the original dome shape by the elastic restoring force. The movable contact of the rubber contact 9 is separated from the fixed contact of the wiring board 8, and the rubber contact switch is turned off.

  The biometric information sensor 11 detects a fingerprint of a finger of an operator who presses the pressing operation unit 2 and biometric information of a vein. As a detection method of the biological information sensor 11, any one of a capacitance type and an optical type is used.

  The flexible wiring 12 is electrically connected to the sensor substrate of the biological information sensor 11. As the flexible wiring 12, a flexible flat cable (FFC), which is a wiring material in which conductors are arranged in parallel, a flexible printed wiring board (FPC) on which a wiring pattern made of copper foil is formed, or the like is used.

  The pressing operation unit 2, the switch 7, and the biological information sensor 11 are collectively arranged in the operation unit holder 5, while the switch 7 and the biological information sensor 11 are electrically connected to each other near the back surface of the operation unit holder 5. The control board 13 to be connected is arranged along the pressing operation direction. Note that, as the switch 7, a switch using a mechanical contact such as a micro switch can be used instead of the rubber contact switch.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical substrate holder 4 is fitted and fixed in a band-like fitting groove 3b formed inside the case 3 along the central axis CL. Inside the substrate holder 4, a band-shaped fitting groove 4a is formed along the central axis CL. A control board 13 which is a double-sided mounting board is fitted and fixed in the fitting groove 4a. The control board 13 is arranged at a position fixed with respect to the movement of the pressing operation unit 2 and the biological information sensor 11.

  A wiring connection connector 10 is fixed to one surface of one end of the control board 13 on the operator-facing surface side, and a sensor connection connector 14 is provided on the other surface opposite to the one surface. Fixed. An external connection connector 15 that is electrically connected to an external control device or the like is fixed to one surface of the other end of the control board 13. Thereby, the control board 13 can be centralized, and the configuration of the connection portion and the internal space of the switch device 1 can be simplified.

  The fixed contact of the switch 7 is electrically connected to the wiring connection connector 10. The biological information sensor 11 is electrically connected to the sensor connector 14 via the flexible wiring 12. Since the flexible wiring 12 of the biometric information sensor 11 can be connected to one end of the control board 13 on the side facing the operator, interference with other components can be avoided.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when the pressing operation unit 2 is pressed, the flexible wiring 12 of the biological information sensor 11 bends and deforms following the movement of the pressing operation unit 2. The reaction force acting on the biological information sensor 11 can be absorbed by this bending deformation.

  On the control board 13, a switch 16 and a control unit 16 for processing signals from the biological information sensor 11 are mounted. The control unit 16 includes a microcomputer including components such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.

  The control unit 16 has a function of comparing biometric information of the operation finger by the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 based on a plurality of templates registered in advance in the ROM, and a switch for detecting the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2. It has a function of recognizing the presence or absence of a pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 based on a signal input from the controller 7.

  The control unit 16 is in a state in which the driving voltage is supplied from the vehicle power supply, so that the pressing operation by the pressing operation unit 2 can be detected, the biological information sensor 11 can acquire the biological information, and the like. The drive voltage is supplied by unlocking the door by authentication based on wireless communication, unlocking the door with a mechanical key, or opening the door.

  When the pressing operation unit 2 is pressed, the control unit 16 obtains the biometric information of the operating finger from the biometric information sensor 11 provided in the pressing operation unit 2 and stores the obtained biometric information in the ROM in advance. The registered biometric information is compared and collated. The result of comparing the biometric information is output to a control unit (not shown) of the vehicle via a terminal of the external connection connector 15 fixed to the control board 13. In the control unit on the vehicle side, biometric authentication for confirming whether the biometric information is correct is executed.

  If the biometric information matches, by performing the biometric authentication establishment process, the power transition operation of the vehicle by the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 is permitted. If the biometric information read by the biometric information sensor 11 does not match the biometric information registered in the ROM in advance, the power transition operation of the vehicle by the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 is not permitted. As a result, the engine does not start.

(Effects of the First Embodiment)
According to the switch device 1 according to the first embodiment configured as described above, the connection portions of the switch 7 and the biological information sensor 11 are collectively connected to one end of the control board 13 extending along the central axis CL. Since the connecting portion has the above structure, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above effects.

  By disposing the rubber contact 9 on the back side of the pressing operation unit 2, the movement of the rubber contact 9 can be limited to a part near the back surface of the pressing operation unit 2. This makes it easy to connect the biological information sensor 11 via the flexible wiring 12 to the control board 13 to which the wiring connection connector 10, the sensor connection connector 14, and the external connection connector 15 are fixed. Flexible wiring for connecting to the external connection connector 15 can also be reduced.

  Since it is sufficient to secure a wiring space at one end of the control board 13, the wiring distance to the control board 13 is shortened, and the wiring space can be reduced.

  Since the wiring distance to the control board 13 can be reduced, the responsiveness of the detection operation of the biological information sensor 11 can be improved without being affected by noise.

  Since the wiring distance to the control board 13 can be shortened, the wiring can be easily routed and assembled.

  In the operation part holder 5, the pressing operation part 2, the switch 7, and the biological information sensor 11 are integrated, and the connection part on the fixed side of the switch 7 and the biological information sensor 11 is integrated at one end of the control board 13. As a result, the switch device 1 can be reduced in size and mounted with high density.

[Second embodiment]
Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, these figures show a configuration example of the switch device 1 according to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the internal structure of the switch device 1 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram when the switch device 1 is pressed. It is a cross section schematic diagram. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the biological information sensor 11 and the control board 13 are connected via the flexible wiring 12. In the second embodiment, the biological information sensor 11 and the control board 13 are connected. And the control board 13 are directly connected to each other.

  In FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, members that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment have the same member names and reference numerals. Therefore, a detailed description of these members will be omitted.

  A board holder 4 for holding the control board 13 is fitted and fixed in a band-like fitting groove 3b formed inside the case 3 along the central axis CL. A tubular slider 17 that can reciprocate along the center axis CL integrally with the pressing operation unit 2 and the biological information sensor 11 is fitted into the belt-shaped sliding guide groove 4b formed inside the substrate holder 4. Have been. A dome-shaped rubber member 18 for automatic return is provided between the slider 17 and the inner bottom surface of the case 3 for automatically returning the pressing operation unit 2 that performs the pressing operation.

  On the surface of the sensor substrate of the biological information sensor 11 facing the mounting surface of the control substrate 13, a plurality of sliding terminals such as a leaf spring contact (not shown) that slides on wiring connected to the control unit 16 of the control substrate 13 are provided. Have been. The sliding terminal always electrically connects the biological information sensor 11 and the control board 13. As the sliding terminal, for example, an input terminal, an output terminal, a power supply terminal, and a ground terminal are used.

  As a switch that is a detection unit that detects a pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 including the biological information sensor 11, a load sensor such as a strain sensor (not shown) that detects an operation load due to the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 2 can be used. . The load information detected by the load sensor can be configured to be output to the control unit 16.

  Instead of the load sensor, a configuration using a non-contact sensor such as a magnetic sensor that detects on / off by detecting a magnetic field of a magnet provided in the pressing operation unit 2 may be used.

(Effect of Second Embodiment)
According to the switch device 1 according to the second embodiment, since the pressing operation unit 2 and the biological information sensor 11 are directly connected to the control board 13, the following effects are obtained in addition to the above effects. Can be

  There is no need to dispose a wiring board and flexible wiring for switch contacts, and it is possible to reduce the number of connectors and wiring space.

  Since the wiring board for the switch contact, the wiring connection connector, the flexible wiring, the sensor connection connector, and the like are not required, the internal space of the switch device 1 can be effectively used.

  As is apparent from the above description, the typical embodiment, the modification, and the illustrated example according to the present invention have been illustrated. However, the above-described embodiment, the modified example, and the illustrated example are described in the claims. The present invention is not limited thereto, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. Therefore, it should be noted that not all combinations of the features described in the above-described embodiments, modifications, and illustrated examples are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch apparatus, 2 ... Pressing operation part, 3 ... Case, 3a ... Elastic locking piece, 3b, 4a ... Fitting groove, 4 ... Board holder, 4b ... Sliding guide groove, 5 ... Operating part holder, 6 ... Bezel, 7: Switch, 8: Wiring board, 9: Rubber contact, 10: Wiring connector, 11: Biological information sensor, 12: Flexible wiring, 13: Control board, 14: Sensor connector, 15: External connection Connector, 16: control unit, 17: slider, 18: dome-shaped rubber member, CL: central axis

Claims (5)

A pressing operation unit provided in the case so as to be capable of pressing and moving,
A biological information sensor provided in the pressing operation unit, for detecting biological information of the operation finger;
A control board provided in the case along the pressing operation direction of the pressing operation unit and connected to the biological information sensor,
An external connection connector fixed to the control board,
A switch device comprising:   The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the biological information sensor has a flexible wiring connected to the control board.   2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the biological information sensor has a sliding terminal that makes electrical sliding contact with the control board. 3. A switch for detecting a pressing operation of the pressing operation unit,
The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is connected to the control board.   The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the control board is a double-sided board.

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