JP3576865B2 - Slide operation type electric parts - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slide operation type electric component such as a slide type variable resistor or a slide switch that changes a resistance output value or switches on / off by sliding a moving body having a slider. In particular, the present invention relates to a slide operation type electric component that requires a small size and a thin shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A typical slide-type variable resistor will be described as a conventional example of this type of slide operation type electric component. The conventional slide-type variable resistor includes a moving body having an operation knob and having a slider attached thereto. A case that slidably accommodates the movable body, a flexible substrate installed on a fixed plate that is a bottom plate of the case, and a coil spring that automatically returns the movable body to an initial position. ing. Then, when the moving body is slid through the operation knob, the coil spring is compressed to generate a resilient force, and the slider slides on the resistance pattern provided on the flexible substrate, so that the resistance output value is increased. Is changing.
[0003]
In the case where the coil spring is provided between the inner wall surface of the case and the moving body, the space occupied by the coil spring tends to hinder miniaturization of the entire electric component. The assembly work is not easy because it has to be built into the inside. On the other hand, in the case of a configuration in which the coil spring is housed in the moving body, downsizing is easily promoted, and the moving body having the coil spring built therein can be incorporated into the case, so that the assembling property is also improved.
[0004]
By the way, in the case where the movable body is a slide operation type electric component having a built-in coil spring, it is necessary to store the coil spring in a space above the spring mounting portion provided on the movable body. The spring mounting portion is likely to have a protruding shape. That is, since a dimension equal to or larger than the outer diameter (coil diameter) of the coil spring must be secured between the spring mounting portion of the moving body and the ceiling surface of the case, a portion of the moving body located inside the case (operation When the thickness of the portion (excluding the knob) is reduced as much as possible to reduce the thickness and weight, the bottom of the spring mounting portion tends to have a shape protruding downward. For this reason, in this type of slide operation type electric component, conventionally, the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion is often brought close to the flexible substrate provided on the fixed plate. However, if the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion contacts the flexible board during the sliding operation, the frictional resistance between them will increase and the operating feeling will deteriorate, so usually a sliding projection is always provided on the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion. I have.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional slide operation type electric component in which the moving body including the coil spring is slid is advantageous in reducing the size and improving the assemblability. Since the mounting portion protrudes toward the flexible substrate, and a sliding projection must be provided on the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion, there is a problem that the thinning is hindered.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a notch is provided in a flexible substrate provided on a fixed plate for closing a lower surface of a case so that a bottom surface of a spring mounting portion of a moving body does not contact the flexible substrate. Such a slide-operation type electric component is characterized in that the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion provided on the moving body is always positioned within the notch provided on the flexible substrate, so that the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion can be moved even if the moving body is slid. Does not interfere with the flexible substrate, so that it is not necessary to provide a sliding projection on the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion. Therefore, the height of the moving body or the case can be reduced by the height of the sliding projection or more, and the thickness can be reduced.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the slide operation type electric component of the present invention, a case having an opening on the upper surface and opening the lower surface, an operation knob exposed from the opening, and a movable body slidably housed inside the case, A coil spring held by a spring mounting portion provided on the moving body and automatically returning the moving body to an initial position, a flexible substrate having a conductive pattern slidably in contact with a slider attached to the lower surface of the moving body, In a slide operation type electric component including a fixing plate that supports the flexible substrate and closes a lower surface of the case, a cutout that faces a bottom surface of the spring mounting portion is provided in the flexible substrate.
[0008]
In the slide operation type electric component configured as described above, when the moving body is slid, the bottom of the spring mounting portion provided on the moving body moves within the cutout of the flexible board, so that the bottom surface contacts the flexible board. There is no need to project the sliding protrusion on the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion, and therefore, the height of the sliding protrusion is almost equivalent to the height of the sliding protrusion. The height of the moving body and the case can be reduced by a size obtained by subtracting the necessary minimum clearance from the added value.
[0009]
Further, in the above configuration, a sliding protrusion (preferably, a sliding rib extending in a sliding movement direction of the moving body) is provided on a lower surface of the moving body, and the sliding protrusion is provided near the notch. It is preferable to make sliding contact on the flexible substrate. When such a sliding protrusion is provided, the spring mounting portion can be moved in a stable posture. In this case, if the sliding protrusion slides on the base film of the flexible substrate during the sliding movement of the moving body, the sliding resistance and wear which may be concerned when the sliding member slides on the resist layer or the like of the flexible substrate. Can be avoided, and a smooth sliding operation without a sense of incongruity can be performed. In addition, when the fixing plate is made of metal, sliding on the fixing plate produces a metallic noise during operation, but by sliding on the base film, regardless of the material of the fixing plate, Occasional noise can be prevented from occurring.
[0010]
Further, in the above configuration, if a region facing the notch of the fixing plate is formed as a recess or a through hole, there is a possibility that the bottom of the spring mounting portion may come into contact with the fixing plate even if it is inserted deeply into the notch. Since it is no longer necessary, the height of the moving body and the case can be further reduced.
[0011]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view (a plan view in which a ceiling surface of a case is removed) showing a non-operating state of a sliding variable resistor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the variable resistor in a sliding operation state, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the variable resistor, FIG. 4 is a rear view of a case used for the variable resistor, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a movable body used in the variable resistor, FIG. 7 is a front view of the movable body, and FIG. 8 is a spring receiver used in the variable resistor. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a front view of the spring receiving member, FIG. 11 is a rear view of the spring receiving member, and FIG. It is a top view of the used flexible substrate.
[0012]
The sliding variable resistor shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is housed in a case 1 in which a case 2 and a fixed plate 3 are integrated, and slidably movable in two opposite directions inside the case 1. A moving body 4, a metal coil spring 5 made of a piano wire or the like housed in a spring housing space 4a provided in the moving body 4, and an elastic rubber attached to both ends of the coil spring 5 in the expansion and contraction direction. , A spring receiving member 7 attached to one end in the longitudinal direction of the spring storage space 4a and integrated with the moving body 4, and a slider attached to the lower surface of the moving body 4. 8 and a flexible substrate 10 having a conductive pattern 9 with which the slider 8 slides. The flexible substrate 10 is mounted on the fixed plate 3 and its leading portion 10 a Has been extended to .
[0013]
The case 2 is a box-shaped molded product in which the lower part of the top plate is opened, and bosses 2a (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for heat tightening are protruded from a plurality of locations on the bottom surface of the side wall. An opening 2b for exposing an operation knob 4b protruding from the moving body 4 and a pair of spring pressing projections 2c and 2d located on the same straight line are provided on a top plate portion of the case. . The fixing plate 3 is made of a metal plate, and is provided with a rectangular recess 3a and a plurality of through-holes 3b located at a peripheral portion as shown in FIG. Then, the case 2 and the fixing plate 3 are integrated to form the housing 1 by inserting the respective bosses 2a into the respective through holes 3b and squeezing the heat.
[0014]
The moving body 4 is a molded product having an operation knob 4b projecting upward, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spring storage space 4a having a substantially cylindrical inner wall surface with a C-shaped cross section, and the spring A projection insertion groove 4c communicating with the storage space 4a, a spring mounting portion 4d protruding below the spring storage space 4a, and on which the coil spring 5 is mounted; A spring receiving mounting portion 4e including the engaging convex portion 4i, three sliding protrusions 4g extending along the longitudinal direction of the spring storage space 4a and the spring mounting portion 4d (sliding movement direction of the movable body 4), and A boss 4h for clinching is provided, and the slider 8 is attached to the bottom surface of the moving body 4 by stiffening the boss 4h. As shown in FIG. 1, a spring pressing protrusion 2c of the case 2 is inserted into the protrusion inserting groove 4c. When the moving body 4 is slid upward in FIG. It is possible to enter the storage space 4a.
[0015]
Since the coil spring 5 having the buffer members 6a and 6b attached to both ends in the expansion and contraction direction is compressed as the moving body 4 slides, the moving body 4 is automatically returned to the neutral position (initial position) by its elastic force. Can be done. The coil spring 5 with the buffer members 6a and 6b is housed in the spring housing space 4a of the moving body 4. In the present embodiment, the width of the upper open end of the spring housing space 4a is determined by the outer diameter of the coil spring 5 ( (Coil diameter), the coil spring 5 is not assembled from the open end at the time of assembling. Instead, the coil spring 5 is assembled into the spring accommodating space 4a from the spring receiver mounting portion 4e side, and then the spring receiver is mounted. By attaching the spring receiving member 7 to the portion 4e, the coil spring 5 is confined in the spring storage space 4a in a slightly compressed state. In this way, the radial deflection of the coil spring 5 can be reliably restricted in the spring storage space 4a having the substantially cylindrical inner wall surface. Unwanted undesired deformation can be limited, and the expansion and contraction operation can be stabilized.
[0016]
The spring receiving member 7 is a molded product as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, and is attached to the spring receiving attachment portion 4 e of the moving body 4. The spring receiving member 7 has an inner wall surface having a C-shaped cross section and communicates with the spring storage space 4a without any step, and a projection which has the same shape as the projection insertion groove 4c and communicates with the concave step 7a. An insertion groove 7b and a pair of leg pieces 7c inserted into each engagement recess 4f are provided. Note that the bottom surface of the leg piece 7c is a sliding rib extending on the same straight line as the sliding projection 4g. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tip end of one cushioning member 6 b attached to the coil spring 5 arranged in the spring storage space 4 a can enter the concave step portion 7 a of the spring receiving member 7. It is. The spring pressing protrusion 2d of the case 2 is inserted into the protrusion inserting groove 7b, and as shown in FIG. 2, the moving body 4 is slid in one direction to move the pressing protrusion 2d into the spring housing space 4a. Can enter. When the spring receiving member 7 is mounted on the spring receiving mounting portion 4e, the coil spring 5 in the space 4a is appropriately compressed by utilizing the upper open end of the spring storage space 4a, and the spring receiving member 4e side is mounted. When the pressing force on the coil spring 5 is removed after the spring receiving member 7 is fitted from the bottom side of the moving body 4 in that state, the compressed coil spring 5 is removed. Is restored to a predetermined coil length, so that the inner surface (inner surface) of the concave step 7a is pushed into the coil spring 5, and a part of the spring receiving member 7 (both sides of the concave step 7a) is attached to the spring receiving member. The spring receiving member 7 is prevented from dropping from the moving body 4 by being pressed against the engaging projection 4i of the portion 4e. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a snap mechanism or the like for locking the spring receiving member 7 on the moving body 4.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 12, a conductive pattern 9 on which a slider 8 slides, a routing portion 10 a extending outward from the housing 1, and a bottom portion of a spring mounting portion 4 d of the moving body 4 are provided on the flexible substrate 10. And a plurality of escape holes 10c for inserting the respective bosses 2a of the case 2 are provided, and a resist layer 11 (see FIG. 12 shaded portions). However, in the three strip-shaped sliding regions 10d in which the sliding protrusions 4g of the moving body 4 are brought into sliding contact, the resist film 11 is not provided and the base film made of the polyester film or the like of the flexible substrate 10 is directly exposed. . When the flexible substrate 10 is positioned on the fixed plate 3, the notch 10 b is located right above the recess 3 a of the fixed plate 3. The conductive pattern 9 is provided with a resistance pattern 9a, a silver pattern 9b, and a current collector 9c, and the slider 8 slides on the conductive pattern 9 as the moving body 4 slides. ing.
[0018]
In the sliding variable resistor configured as described above, when not operating as shown in FIG. 1, the moving body 4 in the housing 1 is stationary at the neutral position, and the slider 8 is positioned on the silver pattern 9b. are doing. When the operation knob 4b is operated in this state to slide the moving body 4 as shown in FIG. 2, the slider 8 slides on the resistance pattern 9a. Change. In addition, since the one spring pressing protrusion 2d enters the spring housing space 4a and compresses the coil spring 5 by the sliding operation, when the operation force on the operation knob 4b is removed, the movement is caused by the elastic force of the coil spring 5. The body 4 is pushed back to the neutral position, so that the slider 8 moves away from the resistance pattern 9a and returns on the silver pattern 9b, and the resistance output value returns to its original value. When the moving body 4 reaches the neutral position in this way, the elastic rubber cushioning member 6a attached to the coil spring 5 collides with the spring pressing projection 2c of the case 2, but the coil spring 5 directly collides. Therefore, almost no collision sound is generated, and the damped vibration of the coil spring 5 which is concerned after the collision quickly converges.
[0019]
Similarly, when the moving body 4 is slid from the neutral position upward in FIG. 1, the resistance output value changes in accordance with the amount of movement, and when the operating force is removed, the moving body 4 is resiliently generated by the coil spring 5. Is pushed back to the neutral position. Also in this case, the collision with the spring pressing protrusion 2d of the case 2 at the time of the automatic return is almost the same as the cushioning member 6b made of the elastic rubber, so that the collision sound is hardly generated and the damped vibration of the coil spring 5 is quickly converged.
[0020]
In the above-described embodiment, the notch 10b for inserting the bottom of the spring mounting portion 4d of the moving body 4 into the flexible substrate 10 and the recess 3a in the fixing plate 3 are provided. Is operated, there is no fear that the bottom of the spring mounting portion 4d that slides in the notch 10b contacts the flexible substrate 10 or the fixed plate 3. Moreover, since the sliding protrusions 4g are provided adjacent to both sides in the width direction of the spring mounting portion 4d, the spring mounting portion 4d having no sliding protrusion on the bottom surface can always be slid in a stable posture. . On the other hand, a height that does not hinder the storage of the coil spring 5 is secured in the spring storage space 4a, and a thickness that provides necessary and sufficient strength is secured in the spring mounting portion 4d. Therefore, such a slide type variable resistor can promote a reduction in thickness without sacrificing operability and strength. When the moving body 4 slides, each sliding protrusion 4g slides on the base film of the flexible substrate 10 (on the sliding area 10d), so that the sliding protrusion 4g slides on the resist layer 11. In addition to avoiding the sliding resistance and abrasion that are concerned about, the occurrence of metallic noise can be prevented, and the sliding operation can be performed smoothly without any uncomfortable feeling.
[0021]
When the recess 3a is provided in the fixing plate 3 as in this embodiment, it seems that the recess 3a protrudes downward and the overall thickness cannot be reduced. However, as shown in FIG. The projection of the recess 3a is smaller than the thickness of the boss 2a that is tightened, so there is no need to worry about that. Further, by providing an escape hole having the same shape as the recess 3a in the fixing plate 3 instead of the recess 3a, it is possible to further reduce the thickness. However, it is possible to reduce the overall thickness only by providing the notch 10b in the flexible substrate 10 without giving special measures to the fixing plate 3.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the operation knob 4b is formed integrally with the moving body 4. However, the operation knob 4b may be provided separately and the operation knob 4b may be attached to the moving body 4. Similarly, case 2 may be configured such that the top plate (ceiling surface) and the side wall are configured as separate components.
[0023]
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a slide switch.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is implemented in the form described above, and has the following effects.
[0025]
A case having an opening on the upper surface and an opening on the lower surface, an operation knob exposed from the opening, a moving body slidably housed inside the case, and a spring mounting portion provided on the moving body. A coil spring that is held and automatically returns the moving body to the initial position, a flexible substrate having a conductive pattern that slides on a slider attached to the lower surface of the moving body, and a case that supports the flexible substrate and supports the flexible substrate. In a sliding operation type electric component having a fixed plate for closing a lower surface, a notch is provided on the flexible substrate so as to face a bottom surface of the spring mounting portion. The bottom of the spring mounting portion moves in the notch of the flexible substrate, and the bottom does not contact the flexible substrate. Therefore, it is not necessary to protrude the sliding protrusion on the bottom surface of the spring mounting portion, and it is possible to reduce the height of the moving body and the case by substantially the height of the sliding protrusion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a non-operating state of a sliding variable resistor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially sectional plan view showing a sliding operation state of the variable resistor.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the variable resistor.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of a case provided in the variable resistor.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a fixed plate provided in the variable resistor.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a moving body provided in the variable resistor.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the moving body.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a spring receiving member provided in the variable resistor.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a front view of the spring receiving member.
FIG. 11 is a rear view of the spring receiving member.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a flexible substrate provided in the variable resistor.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 case 2b openings 2c, 2d spring pressing projection 3 fixing plate 3a recess 4 moving body 4a spring storage space 4b operating knob 4d spring mounting section 4g sliding projection (sliding rib)
5 Coil spring 6a, 6b Buffer member 7 Spring receiving member 8 Slider 9 Conductive pattern 10 Flexible board 10b Notch 10d Sliding area

Claims (4)

A case having an opening on the upper surface and an open lower surface, a moving body having an operation knob exposed from the opening, and slidably housed inside the case, and a spring mounting portion provided on the moving body. A coil spring that is held and automatically returns the moving body to the initial position, a flexible substrate having a conductive pattern that slides on a slider attached to the lower surface of the moving body, and a case that supports the flexible substrate and supports the flexible substrate. A sliding operation type electric component having a fixed plate for closing the lower surface,
A sliding operation type electric component, wherein a notch facing a bottom surface of the spring mounting portion is provided in the flexible substrate. 2. The moving body according to claim 1, wherein a sliding projection is provided on a lower surface of the movable body, the sliding projection being adjacent to the spring mounting portion, and the sliding projection is brought into sliding contact with the flexible substrate near the notch. Sliding operation type electrical parts. 3. The sliding operation type electric component according to claim 2, wherein the sliding projection slides on a base film of the flexible substrate when the moving body slides. 4. The sliding operation type electric component according to claim 1, wherein a region of the fixing plate facing the notch is formed as a recess or a through hole.

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