JP4687245B2 - Push-on switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a push-on switch used mainly for an input operation unit of various electronic devices such as a camera and a video camera.

  Among these conventional push-on switches, the first switch is turned on when lightly pressed, and then the second switch is turned on when pressed harder. The above-mentioned embodiment will be described below.

  10 is an external perspective view of a conventional push-on switch, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line PP in FIG. 10, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Q-Q. is there.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a switch case made of a substantially rectangular resin having a recess 1A having an upper opening. As shown in the top view of the switch case in FIG. An electrically independent peripheral contact 2 and a central contact 3 slightly lower than the peripheral contact 2 are fixed by insert molding in an exposed state, and connection terminals 2A, 2B and 3A respectively connected to the fixed contacts are provided on the switch case 1. It protrudes to the outer peripheral side and is led out. Note that the connection terminal 6 </ b> A is a dummy terminal, which is also provided protruding from the outer peripheral side portion of the switch case 1.

  In addition, a pair of stepped movable contact receiving portions 4 and a pair of cutout groove portions 5 are provided at positions orthogonal to the side walls constituting the recess 1A.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a movable contact formed by pressing an elastic thin metal plate, and its shape is curved in a spherical shape upward as shown in the plan view and side view of FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b). A central disc portion 8, a circular ring-like portion 10 arranged concentrically with a certain distance to the outside, and a pair arranged symmetrically with respect to the center, the disc portion 8 side being higher An inclined connecting portion 9 that connects the disc portion 8 and the ring-shaped portion 10 and a pair of protrusions that are linearly projected outward from the ring-shaped portion 10 on the same diameter as the connecting portion 9. Projecting portion 11. The ring-shaped part 10 is curved and formed in a substantially V shape upward so that two opposing positions perpendicular to the connecting part 9 are the apex part 10B.

  Then, as shown in the top view of the movable contact 7 mounted in the switch case 1 of FIG. 15, the movable contact 7 has the protruding portion 11 formed in the cutout groove portion 5 with the curved protruding portion side facing upward. 12B, as shown in FIG. 12B, the side portion 10A of the V-shaped bent portion of the ring-shaped portion 10 is placed in the concave portion 1A of the switch case 1 so as to be placed on the movable contact receiving portion 4. It is installed.

  The upper surface of the switch case 1 is covered with a sheet 12 made of an insulating film having flexibility, and a metal cover 13 is attached to the switch case 1 from above. The sheet 12 is adhesively held while being sandwiched between the lower surface of the metal cover 13, the upper end surface of the switch case 1, and the small protrusions 1 </ b> B arranged so as to surround the periphery of the recess 1 </ b> A.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and the like, the metal cover 13 includes a pair of elastic arms 13B extending from the frame-shaped flat portion 13A toward the center, and has a central pressing portion 13C connected via the elastic arms 13B. is doing. Reference numeral 13D denotes a ground terminal arranged on the metal cover 13.

  In the normal state, the conventional push-on switch configured as described above is in a switch-off state because the movable contact 7 is separated from the peripheral contact 2 and the central contact 3 as shown in FIG. Yes.

  Next, the operation during the pressing operation of the push-on switch will be described with reference to the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b) and FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). 16 (a) and 17 (a) are cross-sectional views taken along the line PP in FIG. 10, and FIGS. 16 (b) and 17 (b) are cross-sectional views taken along the line Q-Q. In these drawings, only the main part of the metal cover 13 is shown for easy understanding.

  First, when a light pressing force is applied to the pressing portion 13 </ b> C of the metal cover 13 from above, the pressing portion 13 </ b> C descends and presses the disk portion 8 of the movable contact 7 through the sheet 12. When the pressing force exceeds a predetermined force, as shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the movable contact 7 first receives the movable contact receiver of the ring-shaped portion 10 while the disc portion 8 remains spherical. The portion mounted on the portion 4 serves as a fulcrum, the ring-shaped portion 10 is inverted into a concave shape with moderation, and the base portion on the disk portion side of the two connecting portions 9 is connected to two electrically independent peripheral contacts 2 respectively. The first switch is brought into an ON state in which the contact is made and the two peripheral contacts 2 are electrically connected via the movable contact 7, that is, between the connection terminals 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B.

  When the pressing portion 13C is further pushed down from this state and the disc portion 8 of the movable contact 7 is pushed down, the outer peripheral portion is now placed on the peripheral contact 2 as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). The disk part 8 is reversed to the swelled state with moderation, the lower surface of the center part of the disk part 8 contacts the center contact 3, and in addition to the two peripheral contacts 2 short-circuited as the first switch, the center contact 3, that is, the second switch that is electrically connected to 3 A in addition to the connection terminals 2 A and 2 B is turned on.

  Thereafter, when the pressing force to the pressing portion 13C is removed, the pressing force of the movable contact 7 to the disc portion 8 is released, and the disc portion 8 is first restored to the upward projecting spherical state by its elastic restoring force. As a result, the lower surface of the central portion is separated from the central contact 3 and the second switch returns to the off state, and then the connecting portion 9 returns to the inclined state in which the disc portion 8 side is raised, so that the base portion on the disc portion side is peripheral. The first switch also returns to the off state away from the contact 2. In addition, the elastic arm 13B connected to the sheet 12 and the pressing portion 13C also returns to the original position along with the return operation of the movable contact 7. FIG. 18 summarizes the transition states such as the operation stroke and the ON timing of each switch during the above operation.

  As an application of this conventional push-on switch, for example, it is mounted as a switch for a shutter part of a digital still camera or the like, and the focus adjustment to the subject is performed by an on signal from the first switch obtained in a light pressing operation state. In many cases, it is used to release a shutter by an ON signal of a second switch obtained by further pressing.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 11-232962 A

  The conventional push-on switch is particularly suitable for the shutter portion of the camera as described above, but with the spread of digital still cameras and video cameras, the functions of the camera itself are improved, and more Various ideas have been made to make it easy to use.

  For example, a camera with an anti-shake function has been favored at present, and the conventional push-on switch is used for a shutter part or a recording start button part for a camera having the anti-shake function. In order to maintain the operating state, it is necessary to control the camera shake prevention function with the focus adjustment by the ON signal of the first switch. It must be maintained in the pressing state. At this time, the operating force to maintain the ON state of the first switch was light, but in order to make it easier to use, there is a demand for development of a push-on switch that makes it easier to maintain the ON state of the first switch. Has increased.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and is a two-stage push that has a lighter operating force for shifting the first switch to the on state than the conventional one and is easy to maintain. The object is to provide an on-switch.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the inner bottom surface of the concave portion of the upper opening has a central contact and two peripheral contacts arranged at an equal distance from the central contact, and the outer peripheral positions of the respective peripheral contacts are independent from each other. A switch case made of an insulating resin in which each of the pair of the peripheral contact and the outer contact is disposed in an electrically conductive state, and curved upward in a spherical shape. A circular ring-shaped part concentrically connected by a disk-shaped part and a narrow connecting part having flexibility at a certain interval to the outside of the disk part, and two protrudingly formed from the circular ring-shaped part And a circular ring-shaped portion placed on a stepped movable contact receiving portion provided in the recess of the switch case, and the outer periphery of the disk portion has a predetermined interval above each peripheral contact. And the protrusions are Serial is obtained by a push-on switch having a movable contact of the elastic metal plate disposed so as to be separable in each outer contact.

With this configuration, the protrusion of the movable contact can contact the outer contact with a lighter force than the conventional one, and the first switch can be turned on. obtained detent feel of the first stage, an effect of further strongly pressed continuously the second switch button switches the mode to the oN state with the detent feeling, and can be provided with the oN state of the first switch is also easily maintained Have.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein one of the protrusions of the movable contact is normally connected to the corresponding outer contact, and the other of the protrusions corresponds to the corresponding outer contact in accordance with the pressing operation. The first switch can be switched on and off at one place, and the switching characteristics can be stabilized.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a two-stage operation type push-on switch in which the transition of the first switch to the on state is performed with a lighter force than the conventional one and the on state is easily maintained. The advantageous effect that it can be obtained is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the same structure as the past, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Embodiment)
1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of a push-on switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view thereof, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the switch case. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line RR in FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line SS in FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a switch case made of a substantially rectangular resin, and includes a concave portion 21A having an upper opening. The concave portion 21 </ b> A is configured in a substantially circular shape similar to the conventional one having notched groove portions 22 and 23 at one opposing corner position in the outer shape of the switch case 21. In addition, a pair of stepped movable contact receiving portions 24 are provided at positions orthogonal to the notch groove portions 22 and 23 on the side wall constituting the recess 21A.

  Further, the center contact 3 is fixed to the center position of the inner bottom surface of the recess 21A by insert molding as in the prior art. In addition, at the peripheral position, two electrically independent peripheral contacts 31 and 32 are fixed in an exposed state by insert molding at a position equidistant from the central contact 3. The height relationship between the peripheral contacts 31 and 32 and the center contact 3 is the same as the conventional one.

  The one peripheral contact 31 is also routed toward the corresponding one of the cutout groove portions 22 to constitute the bottom portion of the cutout groove portion 22. A portion corresponding to the bottom portion of the notch groove portion 22 is formed to protrude upward from the inner bottom surface of the recess 21A, and the bottom portion of the notch groove portion 22 serves as an outer contact portion 41 on one side.

  The other peripheral contact 32 is also routed in the direction of the corresponding other notch groove 23 to constitute the bottom of the notch groove 23. The portion corresponding to the bottom position of the notch groove portion 23 is disposed in an exposed state at the same height as the inner bottom surface of the recess 21A, and the bottom portion of the notch groove portion 23 functions as the outer contact portion 42 on the other side. It becomes.

  Note that the connection terminal 3A conducted to the central contact 3 protrudes from the outer peripheral side of the switch case 21, and is connected to the peripheral contact 31 and the outer contact 41. The connection terminal 41A and the peripheral contact 32 and the outer contact are provided. The connection terminals 42 </ b> A conducted to 42 are also led out to the outer peripheral side portion of the switch case 21 independently of each other. The connection terminal 6A is a dummy terminal.

  In the concave portion 21A, the same movable contact 7 as in the prior art or each of the protruding portions 11 that are linearly projected at the movable contact 7 is bent slightly downward at a predetermined angle is accommodated. . In addition, although the mounting example of what was mentioned later is illustrated in drawing, the code | symbol is described with the conventional movable contact 7 as it is, and description of the detailed structure is abbreviate | omitted.

  Then, the movable contact 7 has the curved portion side of the central disc portion 8 and the apex portion 10B side in the V-shaped bent portion of the circular ring-shaped portion 10 concentrically connected to the periphery thereof, as in the prior art. Each projecting portion 11 is inserted into the notched groove portions 22 and 23, and the side portion 10A of the V-shaped bent portion of the ring-shaped portion 10 is placed on the movable contact receiving portion 24 as shown in FIG. In this way, the switch case 21 is mounted in the recess 21A.

  At this time, the lower end of one protrusion 11 corresponding to the notch groove 22 is always in contact with the outer contact portion 41 constituting the bottom of the notch groove 22. In addition, the lower end of the other protrusion 11 corresponding to the notch groove 23 is opposed to the outer contact portion 42 on the other side disposed in an exposed state at the bottom of the notch groove 23 with a predetermined interval. The interval is set to be narrower than the opposed vertical interval between the peripheral contacts 31 and 32 and the connecting portion 9 of the movable contact 7.

  The upper surface of the switch case 21 is covered with a rubber or insulating film sheet 50 having elasticity, and the metal cover 13 is attached to the switch case 21 from above. The sheet 50 is provided with the lower surface of the frame-like flat portion 13A of the metal cover 13, the upper end surface of the switch case 21, and the small protrusions 21B (see FIGS. 4 and 5) arranged so as to surround the periphery of the recess 21A on the upper end surface. It is pinched and held. Since the metal cover 13 is the same as the conventional one, the detailed description of the shape is omitted.

  The push-on switch according to the present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, in the normal state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the movable contact 7 is in contact with only the outer contact portion 41 and is separated from the central contact 3, the peripheral contacts 31 and 32, and the outer contact portion 42. Therefore, the switch is in an off state.

  In the above state, when a soft touch is performed by placing a finger or the like on the pressing portion 13C of the metal cover 13, the central pressing portion 13C connected to the elastic arm 13B is slightly lowered and the circle of the movable contact 7 is interposed via the sheet 50. The plate part 8 is pushed. At this time, the movable contact 7 moves to the lower side as a whole as it is as a fulcrum while the one projecting portion 11 always in contact with the outer contact portion 41 is slightly bent, as shown in FIG. The other protruding portion 11 contacts the outer contact portion 42 that is arranged exposed at the bottom of the notch groove portion 23. As a result, the first switch that is electrically connected between the outer contact portions 41 and 42, that is, between the connection terminals 41 </ b> A and 42 </ b> A via the movable contact 7 is turned on.

  6 is a sectional view taken along line RR in FIG. 3 for explaining the operating state of the first switch, and the sectional view taken along line SS in FIG. 3 in the same operating state is shown in the same state as FIG. Therefore, the figure is omitted. FIG. 7 collectively shows the transition state such as the operation stroke and the on timing of each switch during the above operation.

  As can be seen from FIG. 7, the first switch can be switched to the ON state with a very weak operating force and the operation stroke can be set to be very short. For example, if the vertical contact distance between the outer contact portion 42 and the other protrusion 11 is 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, the movable contact 7 is lowered by the set distance as described above. One switch can be turned on. For this reason, as the pressing portion 13C, at the base of the elastic arm 13B extended from the frame-shaped flat portion 13A so that the first switch is not bent due to the weight of the pressing portion 13C when not operated and the switch is not inadvertently turned on. It is preferable that a bent portion or the like is provided and the pressing portion 13C is lifted upward.

  In addition, if it is a thing of the said structure which distribute | arranged one protrusion part 11 to the outer side contact part 41 in the normal connection state, the on-off state of a 1st switch will be one place to the outer contact part 42 by the side of the other protrusion part 11 side. The switching can be achieved by the contact / separation, and the switching characteristics can be stabilized.

  When a pressing force is applied to the pressing portion 13C of the metal cover 13 from the above state with a light force, a pressing force is applied to the disk portion 8 of the movable contact 7, and when the pressing force exceeds a predetermined force, the movable contact As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, first, the disk portion 8 remains spherical and the portion of the ring-shaped portion 10 mounted on the movable contact receiving portion 24 serves as a fulcrum. Is inverted into a concave shape with a moderation, and the base portions of the two connecting portions 9 on the disk portion side are in contact with the peripheral contacts 31 and 32, respectively. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact state between the outer contact portions 41 and 42 and the protrusions 11 is maintained, and the first moderation is performed while the on state of the first switch is maintained. A feel is obtained. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line RR in FIG. 3 for explaining the operating state of the first switch, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S-S in the same manner as in the prior art. Only the main part of the metal cover 13 including the following operation diagram is shown.

  Then, when the pressing portion 13C is further pushed down from this state and the disc portion 8 of the movable contact 7 is pushed down, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the outer peripheral portion is now on the peripheral contacts 31, 32. A connecting terminal in which the mounted disk portion 8 reverses to a swelled state with moderation, and the lower surface of the central portion of the disk portion 8 contacts the central contact 3 and is short-circuited as a first switch via the movable contact 7 In addition to 41A and 42A, the connection terminal 3A of the central contact 3 is also in the on state of the second switch that is electrically conductive. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line RR in FIG. 3 for explaining the operating state of the second switch, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S-S.

  During the operation of the second switch, the projecting portion 11 may momentarily float upward, but the outer contact portions 41 and 42 are arranged in a conductive state with the peripheral contacts 31 and 32 as in the configuration, If the peripheral contacts 31 and 32 are configured to receive the outer peripheral portion of the disc portion 8 of the movable contact 7 and operate the disc portion 8, the ON state of the first switch is reliably maintained. It is possible to make it preferable.

  After that, when the pressing force to the pressing portion 13C is removed, the pressing force of the movable contact 7 to the disc portion 8 is released, and the movable contact 7 is first configured so that the disc portion 8 is first protruded upward by its elastic restoring force. By restoring the state, the lower surface of the center part is separated from the center contact 3 and the second switch returns to the off state. At the same time, the connecting portion 9 returns to the inclined state in which the disk portion 8 side becomes higher, the one protruding portion 11 of the movable contact 7 returns to the original state, and the other protruding portion 11 is the outer contact portion. The first switch away from 42 returns to the off state. In addition, the seat 50 is returned to the original position along with the return operation of the movable contact 7, and the pair of elastic arms 13B extending from the frame-like flat portion 13A to the center side are also returned to the original position. Return to the original position.

  As described above, the push-on switch according to the present invention is a two-stage operation, and the first switch is turned on with a short operation stroke with a very light force of placing a finger on the operation part. Can be configured. In order to maintain the ON state of the first switch, it is only necessary to keep the finger on the operating portion without applying force to the operating finger, and the above-described state can be maintained more easily than the conventional one. In addition, when the first switch is turned on by soft touch as described above, the first moderation feel can be obtained while maintaining the on state of the first switch by operating with a light operating force. When an operation force is applied, the second switch can be realized as a two-stage operation in which the second switch is switched on with a moderation feel.

  Next, the use of the push-on switch according to the present invention will be described. As its use, it can be used for the shutter part of various cameras, the recording start button part of the video camera, and the like as in the prior art.

  At this time, when the switch is mounted on a device with a camera shake prevention function, it is easy to use if the focus adjustment or the camera shake prevention function is operated in conjunction with the transition of the first switch to the ON state.

  In other words, when the user aligns the lens direction with the subject and puts his finger on the shutter part or the recording start button part, the first switch is turned on without having to lightly press the switch. This is because the focus adjustment and camera shake prevention functions can be achieved. Moreover, since the ON state of the first switch is easily maintained by simply placing a finger on the operation part as described above, the operability is superior to the conventional one. Further, the first moderation feel obtained by the subsequent light pressure pressing operation allows the user to recognize that the above functions are working. It is possible to easily realize a device capable of operating a predetermined function such as shutter operation or recording start by turning on the switch.

  Note that the push-on switch according to the present invention is not limited to the camera application, and may be mounted on, for example, an AV / OA device or various remote controllers.

  Further, the configuration of the push-on switch may be other than the configuration described above. For example, the two protrusions 11 face each other on the corresponding outer contact portion with a predetermined interval. Also good.

  Furthermore, a configuration in which the pressing portion 13C is eliminated, that is, a configuration in which the metal cover 13 is eliminated and the sheet 50 is held only by being adhered to the upper end surface of the switch case 21, or a movable contact that does not provide the first moderation feeling is provided. It may be configured using.

  In the above description, the pair of the peripheral contact and the outer contact portion is described as being electrically connected to each other. However, the peripheral contact and the outer contact portion are arranged independently of each other and connected individually. It is good also as a push-on switch of three steps operation | movement as what provided the terminal for.

The push-on switch according to the present invention has an effect that the transition to the on state of the first switch can be performed with a lighter force than the conventional one, and that the on state can be easily maintained. This is useful when configuring an input operation unit of an electronic device.

Sectional drawing of the push-on switch by one embodiment of this invention Sectional view Same perspective view Exploded perspective view Top view of the switch case Sectional drawing in the RR line of FIG. 3 explaining the operation state of the first switch The figure which shows the transition state at the time of operation of the same push-on switch (A) Cross-sectional view taken along line RR in FIG. 3 for explaining the operating state of the first switch, (b) Cross-sectional view taken along line SS (A) Cross-sectional view taken along line RR in FIG. 3 for explaining the operating state of the second switch, (b) Cross-sectional view taken along line SS External perspective view of a conventional push-on switch Exploded perspective view (A) Cross-sectional view taken along line P-P in FIG. 10, (b) Cross-sectional view taken along line Q-Q. Top view of the switch case (A) Plan view of the movable contact, (b) Side view Top view of the switch case with a movable contact (A) Cross-sectional view taken along line P-P in FIG. 10 for explaining the operating state of the first switch, (b) Cross-sectional view taken along line Q-Q. (A) Cross-sectional view taken along line P-P in FIG. 10 for explaining the operating state of the second switch, (b) Cross-sectional view taken along line Q-Q. The figure which shows the transition state at the time of operation of the same push-on switch

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Central contact 3A, 6A, 41A, 42A Connection terminal 7 Movable contact 8 Disc part 9 Connection part 10 Ring part 10A Side part 10B Vertex part 11 Protrusion part 13 Metal cover 13A Frame-shaped flat part 13B Elastic arm 13C Press part 21 Switch case 21A Concave part 21B Small protrusion 22, 23 Notch groove part 24 Movable contact receiving part 31, 32 Peripheral contact point 41, 42 Outer contact part 50 Sheet

Claims (2)

Provided on the inner bottom surface of the concave portion of the upper opening are a central contact and two peripheral contacts arranged at an equal distance from the central contact, and two outer contact parts arranged independently of each other at the outer positions of the respective peripheral contacts. A switch case made of an insulating resin in which a pair of each of the peripheral contact and the outer contact portion is electrically connected to each other, a circularly curved disc portion on the upper side, and a certain distance to the outside thereof. A circular ring-shaped portion concentrically connected by a narrow and flexible connecting portion, and two projecting portions formed outwardly projecting from the circular ring-shaped portion, the circular ring-shaped portion being The outer periphery of the disk portion is placed on the stepped movable contact receiving portion provided in the concave portion of the switch case and is positioned above the peripheral contacts with a predetermined interval, and the protrusions are To be able to contact and separate from the above outer contact parts Push-on switch having a movable contact of the arranged elastic metal plate. The push-on switch according to claim 1, wherein one of the projecting portions of the movable contact is normally connected to the corresponding outer contact portion, and the other of the projecting portions contacts and separates from the corresponding outer contact portion in accordance with a pressing operation.

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