JP2023121939A - Switch device and assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an assembly capable of preventing liquid from infiltrating into a housing.SOLUTION: An assembly 1 comprises a switch device 100 and a cover 200. The switch device has: a printed circuit board 20 that has an electric contact and mounts an electronic component; a housing 10 that accommodates the printed circuit board therein and has on a lateral face an insertion hole for inserting a portion to be connected with an operation knob 40 operated to turn on/off a switch; and a rear cover 70 fitted from a rear side of the housing. A rising part 19 rising upward is provided at an end part at the rear cover side, of a top face of the housing. The cover exposes the operation knob from a front face and covers at least a top face and a front face of the switch device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to switching devices and assemblies.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a switch device composed of a printed circuit board having electric contacts, an operation mechanism for interrupting conduction of the electric contacts, and a housing for housing them. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a centralized arrangement switch aimed at centralized arrangement of switches. In this switch, a thin switch with a front sheet having a dome-shaped protrusion is provided on the surface of the switch knob to constitute an in-vehicle power seat switch as an integrated switch. Since the power seat switch may be exposed to rainwater or dust, it is provided with a dustproof/waterproof boot using a flexible sheet-like member made of rubber.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 discloses a power sheet switch intended to suppress leakage of light emitted from a light-emitting body provided on a substrate through a through-hole of the cover without passing through the light-transmitting cover. disclose. The switch covers the housing, the substrate provided inside the housing, the light emitter mounted on one side of the substrate, and the one side of the substrate and the light emitter, so that the light from the light emitter is covered. and an elastic sheet for guiding light. A through hole is formed in the housing corresponding to one side of the substrate. The elastic sheet has a mirror surface portion on the surface of the portion corresponding to the through hole for totally reflecting light passing through the inside thereof. In addition, in order to improve waterproofness, the entire surface of the substrate is covered with a rubber sheet (elastic sheet).

Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a power seat switch device for a vehicle that is excellent in assembling and operability. This power seat switch device includes a lower case, a wiring board housed in the lower case, first and second connector terminals connected to one end of the wiring board, and first to first connectors mounted on the wiring board. 4 lever switches, first to fourth driving bodies individually arranged above each lever switch, an upper case combined with a lower case to form a switch device case, and first to third and a second operating knob connected to the fourth driving body.

Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a rotary switch device that has no backlash and provides a stable operational feel. This switch device includes a switch member, a support member that accommodates the switch member, an operation knob rotatably supported by the support member, a slider member that reciprocates as the operation knob rotates, and a slider member. a drive member for driving the switch member in reciprocating motion; The support has a shaft portion for rotatably supporting the operation knob, and the operation knob has a shaft-side end portion provided with a bearing portion into which the shaft portion is inserted, and the slider member is connected without a gap. The inner peripheral surface of the bearing portion surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion with a gap therebetween, and at least one of the shaft portion and the bearing portion has an operation knob as a slider member. An urging portion is provided for urging in a direction from to the shaft portion.

Further, Patent Document 5 discloses a slide operation type electric component in which a click feeling during slide operation can be set relatively freely and an increase in size can be easily avoided. In this electrical component, the slider has a pair of ridges extending in a predetermined direction, and each ridge is inserted into the guide path of the holding case so as to slide along the guide surface. . The protruding portion is provided with a notch that is open on the side of the protruded end surface, and a steel ball that is elastically biased by the coil spring is in elastic contact with the inner wall surface of the notch. The shape of the notch tapers from the open end toward the back, and the steel ball engages and disengages from the click groove formed at the deepest part of the notch to generate a click feeling. . The coil spring is housed in a spring housing portion of the holding case, and this spring housing portion is provided so as to protrude from the guide path and be continuous with the guide surface.

Moreover, Patent Document 6 discloses an operation device including an operation knob, an actuator, a first switch, a second switch, and a holder. a first accommodating space of the holder that extends in a first direction, accommodates a first arm of the actuator, and guides the first arm in a pressing direction of the first switch; a second accommodating portion extending in the second direction, accommodating the second arm portion of the actuator, and guiding the second arm portion in the pressing direction of the second switch. the first arm portion or the first housing portion has a permitting portion that avoids interference between the first arm portion and the first housing portion and permits the actuator to tilt in the second direction; The second arm portion or the second housing portion has a permitting portion that avoids interference between the second arm portion and the second housing portion and permits tilting of the actuator in the first direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-281102 International Publication No. 2020/121688 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-288393 JP 2016-213120 A JP 2009-218064 A International Publication No. 2020/255495

The present invention provides a switch device and assembly that prevents liquid from entering the housing.

In order to solve the above problems, a printed circuit board having electrical contacts and electronic components mounted thereon is housed inside and connected to an operation knob operated to turn on/off a switch. A switch device comprising: a housing having an insertion hole on the side surface for inserting a portion to be inserted; and a back cover fitted from the back side of the housing. provided.
According to this, a switch device is provided that prevents liquid from entering the housing by having a rising portion that rises upward at the end of the upper surface of the housing on the side of the back cover.

In order to solve the above problems, an assembly of a switch device and a cover attached to the switch device, the switch device having electrical contacts and a printed circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, covering the printed circuit board, A rubber sheet having a rubber dome at a position corresponding to an electrical contact, an operation knob operated to operate the rubber dome and turn on/off the electrical contact, and an operation knob interposed between the operation knob and the rubber dome The operation mechanism that transmits the force applied to the rubber dome, the operation mechanism plate provided with the operation mechanism, and the insertion hole through which the part connected to the operation knob of the operation mechanism is inserted on the side, and the liquid that has entered inside A housing having a discharge hole on the bottom for discharge, and a back cover fitted from the back side of the housing and sandwiching the entire circumference of the rubber sheet with a step formed inside the housing, the back cover side of the top surface of the housing. An assembly is provided in which the end portion has a riser rising upward, the cover exposes the operating knob from the front surface, and covers at least the top surface and the front surface of the switch device.
According to this, an assembly that prevents liquid from entering the housing is provided by having a rising portion that rises upward at the end portion of the upper surface of the housing on the back cover side.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a switch device and an assembly that prevent liquid from entering the housing.

1A and 1B are a front view, a bottom view, a perspective view from the upper right of the front, and a perspective view from the upper left of the back of the switch device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device of the first embodiment according to the present invention, taken along line AA in FIG. 1(B); 1A and 1B are perspective views of a switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front right lower side, comprising: (A) a perspective view showing the entirety; (B) a perspective view when an operation knob is removed; and (C) further. (D) Perspective view with the surface of the housing removed while leaving the discharge passage, (C) Perspective view seen from the front side, (E) Further operation mechanism plate 4 is a perspective view of the printed circuit board with the rubber sheet removed; FIG. (A) bottom view, (B) front perspective view from the upper right, and (C) rear perspective view from the upper left of an assembly composed of a switch device and a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4(A) of the assembly composed of the switch device and the cover of the first embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembly composed of a switch device and a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the lower right rear surface, (A) a perspective view showing the whole, and (B) a case where the back cover is removed. and (C) a perspective view with the printed circuit board removed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly composed of a switch device and a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the lower right side of the rear surface, (A) a perspective view when the rubber sheet is removed, and (B) an operation mechanism. The perspective view when removing a board. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly composed of a switch device and a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the rear upper left side, (A) a perspective view when the rubber sheet is removed, and (B) an operation mechanism. The perspective view when removing a board.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
A switch device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. The switch device 100 is mounted on a vehicle, receives power supply from a battery of the vehicle, and performs on/off control of a motor that drives a predetermined part based on a user's operation. The switch device 100 has excellent water resistance, as will be described later, and is assumed to be installed in locations where there is a possibility of being exposed to rain water or drinks, such as near doors and seats in a vehicle. . The switch device 100 presented as an example is a switch provided on the side of the seat on the driver's seat door side for operating the power seat.

The switch device 100 includes a housing 10 , a printed circuit board 20 , a rubber sheet 30 , an operating knob 40 , an operating mechanism 50 , an operating mechanism plate 60 and a rear cover 70 . When viewed from the front, the housing 10 has a horizontally long, generally rectangular shape to fit the sides of the seat, and the printed circuit board 20, the rubber sheet 30, and the operating mechanism plate 60 are all placed inside generally parallel to the front. It has a thickness to accommodate. That is, the printed circuit board 20, the rubber sheet 30, and the operation mechanism plate 60 accommodated inside are arranged such that these planes are substantially perpendicular to the ground when the switch device 100 is installed in a vehicle. It will be placed vertically on the The back surface of the housing 10 is open, but after the contents to be stored inside are stored, the back cover 70 serves as a lid and is closed. The switch device 100 is installed with the back cover 70 side facing the seat and the front side facing the door.

The printed circuit board 20 is mounted with electrical contacts 21, electronic components (not shown), and connectors 22 for electrical connection with the outside. The electrical contact 21 typically constitutes a part of the membrane switch, but is not limited to this. It may be configured to conduct. The connector 22 is mounted facing downward at the bottom of the printed circuit board 20, making it difficult for the user to visually recognize and easy to connect to the power source and the motor. The electronic component uses power from the power supply to generate signals to drive the motor.

Rubber sheet 30 is a flexible sheet of rubber that covers printed circuit board 20 and has rubber domes 31 at locations corresponding to electrical contacts 21 . The rubber sheet 30 covers not only the planar printed circuit board 20 but also the connector 22 provided to rise from the printed circuit board 20 . The rubber dome 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the electrical contact 21 provided on the printed circuit board 20. When pressed by an operation mechanism 50, which will be described later, the rubber dome 31 is dented to make the electrical contact 21 conductive. is separated from the electrical contact 21 by the . The rubber sheet 30 covers all the connectors 22, electrical contacts 21, and electronic components on the printed circuit board 20 through which electricity flows, and prevents the printed circuit board 20 from being exposed to water even if the switch device 100 is exposed to water. .

A plurality of operation knobs 40 are provided on the front side for driving predetermined portions of the driver's seat in predetermined directions. For example, one of the plurality of operation knobs 40 is used to move the seat back and forth and up and down, and the other one of the operation knobs 40 is used to move the backrest up and down. Therefore, the operating knob 40 is often operated in the vertical direction (the D1 direction in FIGS. 1 and 2), and this operating force is applied to the switch device 100 . When the operating knob 40 is operated by the user, the movement is propagated to the operating mechanism 50 , and the operating knob 40 operates the rubber dome 31 via the operating mechanism 50 to turn on/off the electrical contact 21 .

The operation mechanism 50 has a connection portion 51 connected to the operation knob 40, a slide portion 52, and a plunger 53 (FIG. 2). The connecting portion 51 is exposed from the front of the housing 10 through the insertion hole 11 provided in the side surface of the housing 10 on the front side, and is connected to the operation knob 40 . The slide portion 52 is accommodated in the housing 10 and slides along with the operation knob 40 in the D1 direction. The plunger 53 is a member that changes the moving direction of the slide portion 52 to its vertical direction, ie, the direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 20 and the rubber sheet 30 .

For example, when the operation knob 40 is operated in the downward direction D1 by the user, the slide portion 52 slides downward along with it and pushes down the tip of the plunger 53 positioned below (rightward in the figure). . The plunger 53 is configured such that when pushed down, the other tip abuts the rubber dome 31 and pushes it down, thereby turning on the electrical contacts 21 of the printed circuit board 20 . Thus, the operating mechanism 50 is interposed between the operating knob 40 and the rubber dome 31 and transmits the force applied to the operating knob 40 to the rubber dome 31 . Although not shown, the operating mechanism 50 also includes an elastic member that biases the slide portion 52 in a predetermined direction, a member that produces a switch feel, and the like.

The operation mechanism plate 60 is a strong base on which a plurality of operation mechanisms 50 are provided, supports each operation mechanism 50 and is configured to withstand the operation force applied via the operation knob 40 . The operation mechanism plate 60 is attached to the frontmost side inside the housing 10, and has support portions 62 that are fitted into the support holes 14 provided in the top and bottom surfaces of the housing 10 (FIG. 2). 10 is firmly attached. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 and the front view and bottom view of FIG. The positions of the support hole 14 and the insertion hole 11 match in the operation direction D1 of the operation knob 40 when viewed from the front side.

A support hole 14 is provided directly below the insertion hole 11 through which the connection portion 51 of the operation mechanism 50, in which the operation knob 40 moves up and down and the slide portion 52 moves up and down, is inserted. That is, with such a configuration, the force in the operation direction D1 applied to the operation knob 40 arranged on the front surface of the switch device 100 is supported directly above the insertion hole 11 on the top surface and directly below the insertion hole 11 on the bottom surface. It can be firmly supported by the hole 14 via the support portion 62, and the strength of the operation mechanism 50 can be ensured. In this embodiment, the support hole 14 is a hole penetrating the surface and the inner surface of the housing 10, but it may be a recessed hole that engages with the support portion 62 without penetrating.

Further, the housing 10 has a discharge hole 12 on the bottom surface for discharging the liquid that has entered the inside of the housing 10 . The position of the discharge hole 12 is shifted from the position of the insertion hole 11 in the operation direction D<b>1 of the operation knob 40 . That is, support holes 14 are provided on the bottom surface immediately below corresponding to the respective insertion holes 11, discharge holes 12 are provided between the support holes 14, and the discharge holes 12 and the support holes 14 are alternately provided on the bottom surface. They are arranged side by side (FIG. 1(B), etc.). Liquid may enter through the insertion hole 11 through which a part of the operation mechanism 50 is inserted. By adopting a configuration that leads to the hole 12, even if the discharge hole 12 is displaced in the operation direction D1, it is possible to secure the strength of the operation mechanism and facilitate the discharge of the liquid that has entered.

The housing 10 accommodates the operation mechanism plate 60, the rubber sheet 30, and the printed circuit board 20 in order from the front, and the back cover 70 is fitted from the back side of the housing 10 and closed. When the rear cover 70 is fitted into the housing 10, the entire circumference of the rubber sheet 30 is sandwiched between the stepped portion 16 formed inside the housing 10 (FIGS. 2 and 5). As a result, the printed circuit board 20 through which electricity flows can be accommodated in the space between the back cover 70 and the rubber sheet 30, and the printed circuit board 20 can be prevented from being exposed to water by sandwiching the entire periphery.

The discharge hole 12 is located on the inner surface of the front side of the housing 10, more specifically, in the lower part of the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30, and between the discharge hole 12 and the rubber sheet 30 is the bottom part 1A. provided to be present (FIG. 5). The bottom portion 1A is part of the housing 10 and is provided between the discharge hole 12 and the stepped portion 16. As shown in FIG. According to this, the discharge hole 12 located on the bottom surface of the housing 10 is located below the space between the inner surface of the front side of the housing 10 and the rubber sheet 30 so that the bottom portion 1A exists between the rubber sheet 30 and the rubber sheet 30. By positioning the rubber sheet 30 away from the rubber sheet 30, the liquid is kept away from the connection part (step part 16) between the rubber sheet 30 and the housing 10 and prevented from entering there, thereby enhancing the waterproof function of the rubber sheet 30. At the same time, the infiltrated liquid is easily discharged.

The housing 10 also has a connector opening 17 on its bottom surface for external connection to a connector 22 facing downward at the bottom of the printed circuit board 20 . The connector opening 17 is provided with a predetermined distance from the discharge hole 12 on the bottom surface. The predetermined distance is a distance at which the liquid discharged from the discharge hole 12 does not splash into the connector opening 17, and is appropriately determined. For example, as shown in FIG. The distance is such that the support hole 14 exists between them. In this way, the discharge hole 12 provided in the bottom surface of the housing 10 and the connector opening 17 are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined distance such as by arranging the support hole 14 , so that the liquid can enter the housing 10 and exit the discharge hole 12 . It is possible to prevent the discharged liquid from entering the connector 22 .

If a liquid such as rainwater or a drink is splashed on the switch device 100 from above, the liquid may enter from the upper surface of the housing 10 along the front side surface through the insertion hole 11 . Liquid that has entered through the insertion hole 11 flows into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 . The liquid that has flowed into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 will not be able to pass through the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the printed circuit board 20 when the switch device 100 is installed. It flows to the hole 11 and the bottom side of the operation mechanism 50 .

The operation mechanism plate 60 has a communication hole that communicates the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30 and the space between the inner surface of the front side surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 on the bottom side of the operation mechanism 50 . 61 (FIGS. 3C, 3D, 5). The liquid that has flowed into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 flows through the communication hole 61 into the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30, and flows into the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30. It is discharged through the holes 12 .

In addition, a discharge path is formed between the inner surface of the front side surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 and on the bottom side of the insertion hole 11 and the operation mechanism 50 to guide the liquid that has entered from the insertion hole 11 to the communication hole 61 . 15 are preferably provided. In this manner, the space between the inner surface of the front side surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60, which is closer to the bottom than the insertion hole 11 and the operation mechanism 50, is filled with the liquid that has entered through the insertion hole 11 and the operation mechanism. By providing the discharge path 15 leading to the communication hole 61 that communicates the spaces on both sides of the plate 60, in the switch device in which the printed circuit board 20 is placed vertically when the switch device 100 is installed, the infiltrated liquid can be removed. Ejection from the ejection hole 12 can be facilitated.

In this embodiment, the discharge path 15 extends from the inner side of the front side surface of the housing 10 toward the operation mechanism plate 60 and is formed by contacting the operation mechanism plate 60 at its tip. . However, the discharge passage is not limited to this, and may be formed by extending from the surface of the operating mechanism plate on the housing side toward the front surface of the housing, and the tip thereof coming into contact with the inner surface of the housing. In any case, by forming such a discharge path, the liquid that has entered from the insertion hole 11 is smoothly guided to the communication hole 61 and discharged from the inside of the switch device 100 at an early stage.

Also, the liquid that has flowed into the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30 through the communication hole 61 normally flows toward the discharge hole 12 provided below, but the rubber sheet 30 flows from the printed circuit board 20. Since there is a portion that covers the connector 22 that is provided so as to stand up, it is preferable to lead it to the discharge hole 12 from that portion. As a configuration, the rubber sheet 30 extends toward the operation mechanism plate 60 , and the tip of the rubber sheet 30 contacts the operation mechanism plate 60 . It is preferable to have a connector section discharge path 32 for guiding (FIG. 3(E)). The connector discharge passage 32 is connected at one end by a portion of the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22, extends from one end toward the discharge hole 12 provided on the bottom surface, and extends toward the discharge hole 12 provided on the bottom surface. An edge 34 is formed. The other end 34 is separated from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22, and a gap 33 that does not cause capillary action exists between the lower end of the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 and the other end 34.例文帳に追加

In this way, the connector part discharge path 32 leading the liquid formed on the rubber sheet 30 to the discharge hole 12 extends from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 at an angle toward the discharge hole 12, and the tip thereof (The other end 34) is separated from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22, and a gap 33 exists between the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 and liquid enters from the connector opening 17 of the connector 22. can be prevented.

A connector opening wall 18 extending downward is preferably provided around the connector opening 17 . According to this, it is possible to prevent the liquid discharged from the discharge hole 12 from exceeding the connector opening wall 18 and entering the connector 22 . It is also preferred to have a drain hole wall 13 extending downwardly around the perimeter of the drain hole 12 . According to this, the liquid discharged from the discharge hole 12 falls further downward, so that it can be prevented from entering the connector 22 .

It should be noted that it is preferable to have a raised portion 19 that rises upward at the end portion of the upper surface of the housing 10 on the side of the back cover 70 (FIGS. 2, 5, 7, etc.). This prevents the liquid from entering the housing 10 from the rear side.

Further, the switch device 100 may be provided as an assembly 1 together with a design cover 200 that is attached to the switch device 100, exposes the operation knob 40 from the front surface, and covers at least the upper surface and the front surface of the switch device 100 ( 4 to 8). This provides an assembly 1 that is aesthetically pleasing and prevents liquid from entering the interior of the housing 10 .

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the exemplified embodiments, and can be implemented with a configuration that does not deviate from the content described in each item of the claims. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described primarily with respect to particular embodiments, there may be modifications, quantities, Various modifications can be made to other detailed configurations by those skilled in the art.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 assembly 100 switch device 10 housing 11 insertion hole 12 discharge hole 13 discharge hole wall 14 support hole 15 discharge channel 16 shoulder 17 connector opening 18 connector opening wall 19 riser 1A bottom 20 printed circuit board 21 electrical contact 22 connector 30 Rubber sheet 31 Rubber dome 32 Connector discharge path 33 Gap 34 Other end 40 Operation knob 50 Operation mechanism 51 Connecting part with operation knob 52 Slide part 53 Plunger 60 Operation mechanism plate 61 Communication hole 62 Support part 70 Back cover 200 Cover D1 Operating direction of operation knob

Claims (2)

a printed circuit board having electrical contacts and having electronic components mounted thereon;
a housing containing the printed circuit board and having an insertion hole on a side surface for inserting a portion connected to an operation knob operated to turn on/off the switch;
a back cover fitted from the back side of the housing;
with
The end of the upper surface of the housing on the side of the back cover has a raised portion that rises upward,
switch device. An assembly of a switch device and a cover attached to the switch device,
The switch device is
a printed circuit board having electrical contacts and having electronic components mounted thereon;
a rubber sheet covering the printed circuit board and having a rubber dome at a location corresponding to the electrical contact;
an operation knob operated to operate the rubber dome and turn on/off the electrical contact;
an operation mechanism interposed between the operation knob and the rubber dome for transmitting force applied to the operation knob to the rubber dome;
an operation mechanism plate provided with the operation mechanism;
a housing having, on its side surface, an insertion hole through which a portion connected to the operation knob of the operation mechanism is inserted, and on the bottom surface, a discharge hole for discharging liquid that has entered the housing;
a back cover that is fitted from the back side of the housing and sandwiches the entire circumference of the rubber sheet with a stepped portion formed inside the housing;
with
an end portion of the upper surface of the housing on the back cover side has a raised portion that rises upward;
The cover exposes the operation knob from the front surface and covers at least the upper surface and the front surface of the switch device.
assembly.